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Questions tagged [copper]

The Element Cu known for its electrical and thermal conductivity, both of which are exploited in EE. THis material is typically what is used in PCB's for the traces and also modern CMOS processes have Cu layers in them due to it's superior conductivity. You also see copper in heat sinks to carry heat away from components.

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Passing an AC voltage to a set of copper pipes (Paul trap)

I and a few other students at my university are constructing a linear ion trap as a summer project. It'll be used for outreach and science demonstrations, so the charged particles we'll be trapping ...
Parker S.'s user avatar
8 votes
2 answers
2k views

Why coated copper carry more current than bare bar?

From Rittal Technical Information Rated currents of busbars E-Cu (DIN 43 671) : In the table, it says bare bar carry less current than coated bar. What is the reason of that ? and what kind of coated ...
Nott's user avatar
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Calculation of Current Capability of Copper Bus Bar

If we look the table 20x10 copper bus bar with 199 mm2 is able to carry 427A (bare bar)according to table.So we ended up with 2.14572864322 A/mm2. However, when we 30x10 mm2 copper bus bar with 299 ...
Nott's user avatar
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How can I insulate cables using a copper braid too thin to sheathe them?

I have high-voltage SHV cables that I need to shield using a copper braid. I am using sensitive electronics and these cables appear to be a source of noise. The only copper braid that I have available,...
C. Crt's user avatar
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3 answers
145 views

Copper wire for high frequency converters

Designers use Litz copper wire for high frequency windings. That rapidly increases the diameter of wire needed and decreases the stacking factor. Should’t it be possible to make a copper wire with ...
Michal Podmanický's user avatar
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2 answers
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How to reset the copper after removing vias in Altium Designer

How do I reset the copper plane after removing vias and traces?
9_daytona's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
304 views

Calculation of the cross section of the busbar in the switchgear

To calculate the cross-sectional area of the copper busbar, it is necessary to calculate the permissible current of the busbar. One of the correction coefficients that must be multiplied in this ...
Bahman.MD's user avatar
6 votes
3 answers
741 views

How are copper busbars connected to each other?

How are busbars connected to each other? A quick google image search makes it obvious that it is bolts. https://i.ibb.co/8D05Sk5/power-dist-jpg.jpeg The specifics of the bolts is what I am most ...
DrakeJest's user avatar
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Copper or Brass for G-Clamp busbar

I'm looking into a busbar for a test setup temporarily wire up G-Clamps. The test setup will then perform electrical tests (for the cable) or high current and voltage. (100A for seconds) Existing test ...
Jeroen3's user avatar
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2 votes
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What material for battery contact spring monitoring temperature device in fridge

I have a battery case I am creating for fridge sensor temperature monitoring. For the battery spring contact I am currently using copper tape. Is this an appropriate metal to use? Or should I be ...
Applebee's user avatar
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3 answers
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Why did the Lucas voltage regulator use rectangular section enameled wire for one of the windings?

In the 1930s and subsequently, Lucas supplied a car voltage regulator of the twin bobbin type. A detailed description of how it operated can be found here, but in summary, one solenoid operated a cut-...
Gus's user avatar
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Any information on magnetic braking with copper?

I have an engineering project where I have to design and build a model of a drop tower from a theme park. The tower itself can be no taller than 40cm. I plan to use magnetic braking with copper to ...
18jbrana's user avatar
12 votes
2 answers
728 views

Galvanic corrosion between silver plated MCCB terminals and aluminium

We are planning to install a switchboard in one of our garages. The MCCB (moulded case circuit breaker) is used as a main incomer which has silver plated copper terminals. The aluminium busbars are ...
DaSnipeKid's user avatar
9 votes
6 answers
6k views

Reason not to use aluminium wires, other than higher resistance

So aluminium is 3.3 times lighter than copper (8.96 vs 2.70 g/cm3). And its resistance is only 55% bigger. So in weight/resistance ratio it is actually better than copper. Also it is cheaper. Why ...
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Problem in etching a PCB

I was working on making my own PCB but faced a problem during etching. I used an iron to transfer the circuit to the copper board, some of the sketch wasn't fine so I used a permanent marker to make ...
kam1212's user avatar
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Which wire gauge (AWG) to make copper brushes?

I have to realize some sliding contact between a board and another one. The moving board has a fixed rail, and it can move horizontally. I want to transfer power from the bottom board to the top one. ...
Gianfranco Di Domenico's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
221 views

Determination of temperature rise - Deviation of ± 5 K

I was referring IEC 61439-1 standard for the deriving the temperature rise of an assembly through comparison. We can derive the current rating of an assembly (low voltage switchboard) at any point (...
DaSnipeKid's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
144 views

Why is the temperature sometimes expressed as a difference between two values and not an absolute value?

I was going through an IEC standard - 61439-1, table 6. For aluminum, the standard specifies the value as 55K which is a temperature rise. IEC 60085 specifies the class B insulator absolute value as ...
Manoj Vignesh T's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
128 views

Can a solenoid be made of copper strips?

Could a coil of copper strips instead of copper wires be used as a solenoid? Are there any real world examples of making solenoids out of strips of copper?
David johns's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
278 views

What is the total charge Q of 1 m³ of copper?

I was wondering if I can calculate the total charge Q of 1 m3 of copper, see my calculation in the picture below. Is this correct? The correct solution (thanks to the community in the comments below):...
Marco Moldenhauer's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
676 views

Do EMC test houses typically accept copper foil in EUT?

Working with small volume product and tight schedule it might become an option to pass EMI limits by use of copper/aluminium foil on inside of enclosure. What is your experience with the labs on this ...
NoobPointerException's user avatar
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1 answer
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Merging of Ethernet copper ports into 1

I have configured the copper ports of Ethernet switch as shown below. (i.e merged all the ports and made it has a single port). My understanding is there will be a signal overlap during the Auto-neg ...
user avatar
0 votes
6 answers
279 views

If there are two electrical conductors in a circuit with differing electrical conductivities will electricity choose the most conductive conductor?

Say you had two parallel wires, one copper and one steel, copper having a much higher conductivity than the steel, will electricity choose to flow through the copper wire, ignoring the steel wire?
August H's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
102 views

Best ways to mask missing toner after toner transfer PCB etching

I want to make a general guide for masking the missing toner on copper clad after toner transfer. The masking methods I know so far: Permanent marker (some say it doesn't work, I am intimidated by it ...
CaveScientist's user avatar
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1 answer
306 views

Do power inductors having an aluminum winding (or a light weight winding) exist? [closed]

I need the lightest power inductors possible. Do inductors having aluminum windings (or any light-weight winding) exist? I would also consider hollow-core wiring to be used at very high frequencies, ...
MicroservicesOnDDD's user avatar
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1 answer
191 views

Transformer copper loss

In this Example the efficiency for a full-load transformer was asked to solve. The book calculated the copper losses after referral to the secondary side as the following : Pcu = (Is)^2Req = (65.2 A)^...
Jesse Flynn's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
2k views

Can I make a homemade Peltier module with constantan wire?

I'm trying to make my own Peltier module. I ordered constantan wire, which I used as N-type semiconductor and iron wire as P-type. I made this and powered it with 3V, but without response. What am I ...
PO12's user avatar
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3 votes
2 answers
225 views

How to coat a thin electrical wire with carbon?

I am looking for glue that can be used under a bio-solution. The solution is a bacteria culture solution (LB, SB). I have a chamber filled with culture solution and I would like to extend an ...
Anwer Ak's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
245 views

Can an electromagnet be made from copper tape?

Can a roll of copper tape act like a solenoid when connected to electricity? How does it compare to a solenoid of the same size made from copper wire?
David jones's user avatar
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2 answers
99 views

Understanding the Formula for Amperage with Copper

From the beginning of Practical Electronics for Inventors: This makes sense to me up until the term $$1A = \left( \frac{1C}{1s} \right) \left( \frac{\text{electron}}{-1.602 \times 10^{-19} C} \right)$...
George's user avatar
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7 votes
2 answers
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Using a PCB trace as a heater / Hilbert Curves

I'm considering making a PCB to use as a heater for a 3d printer bed. This has been common practice for ~10 years (https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3919). I was playing around with KiCad and python, ...
Raph's user avatar
  • 73
-1 votes
2 answers
299 views

Why is the magnetic field not blocked by the copper wires in a current transformer?

When I want to protect an electronic board from a magnetic field generated by a transformer, I put a circle of vias (as a jail grid) connected to GND planes to stop the magnetic field. How does a ...
zian's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
173 views

Crimp vs stainless steel intermediary for copper and nichrome connections in a heating element. Any difference in speed of heating?

I'm designing an electric furnace to melt aluminium. I'm planning to use the heating element from an electric oven. I'm aware that the melting temp for aluminium is lower than copper BUT I don't want ...
Cautiouslyoptimistic 's user avatar
2 votes
3 answers
12k views

Can an insulated copper wire oxidize down its entire length?

I was doing some electrical wiring on a trailer today and was surprised to see black instead of shiny copper when I cut and stripped a section from the middle of a long section of uninterrupted wire. ...
wild coast's user avatar
22 votes
7 answers
7k views

In PCBs, why is copper etched away instead of added?

I know that in virtually every case, PCBs start as a substrate with a layer of copper laminated on top, which is then etched away, leaving the traces. But why are the traces not added on an empty ...
David Cian's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
499 views

Fixing corroded contact surfaces on PCB

Looking at a Seagate HDD that no longer connects. The motor is running, but does not show in devices. The disk has production date is 12361 (2012-03-05). Before having a look inside I checked out the ...
Turmund's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
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How to repair broken coil?

I am working on my Grandpa's rare old watch which was damaged, the damage is with the coil in which one copper strand is cut. Its an enamel coated copper. How to repair the cut wire? and I want to ...
Kavin Ishwaran's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
122 views

What are the effects of small spark gaps on connectors?

I was reading about the '4th Pin' problem that effects almost all modern iPhone users. It is where the 4th pin on the lightning connector turn black and eventually will not work until it is scraped or ...
Liam Kelly's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
236 views

Can the acetic acid base silicone sealant damage the lacquer layer of the enamelled copper wire?

I know that acetic acid silicone is not the best choice for electronics. There is a passive audio crossover with large air core coils (70mm diameter, 20mm hole in the middle) .The coils are glued with ...
AaZsaa's user avatar
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1 vote
2 answers
683 views

Polygon pour on internal signal layer ALTIUM

I am working on a six layer PCB, the layers are Top layer, layer 1...layer4, Bottom layer. I am trying to create a polygon pour on any internal layers (for example layer 1). However when I try to pour ...
TeachMe's user avatar
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0 votes
3 answers
164 views

Is the melting point of pure indium too low to safely use to solder together a custom copper heatsink to be used ontop of motherboard mosfets?

Is the melting point of pure indium too low to safely use Indium to solder together a custom copper heatsink that will then be used ontop a motherboard mosfet? In other words, can the mosfets get hot ...
user280184's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
527 views

Why are my copper PCB solder pads oxidizing?

I work at a place that sells LED strip lights and we don't have an engineering team, so I am hoping that someone can help me figure out what is going on because I've tried everything and I haven't ...
BadAtElectronics's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
438 views

Why did the liquid tin evaporate off my board when soldering?

On the weekend I designed and etched a tiny little 12V booster circuit for an OLED. To prevent the traces from oxidising in the future, I removed the leftover ink after etching and placed the board in ...
ezra_vdj's user avatar
  • 620
0 votes
1 answer
172 views

Determine copper thicknesses for multi layer PCB

When deciding PCB stack-up generally accept the manufacturer suggestions. Especially they calculate the track impedance more accurate. For my last design I checked the guideliness for the FPGA (...
2funpars's user avatar
6 votes
3 answers
3k views

Ferric Chloride Etchant Disposal

I am a beginner with PCBs and wanted to start making some. But before I did, I wanted to make sure I was completely prepared. I just wanted to make sure that the information I have is correct and had ...
Legend ile's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
1k views

Would a square piece of copper have a similar maximum current rating as a copper wire?

If I have a 3mm x 3mm x 3mm piece of copper that conducts a DC current, is there a way to determine its maximum safe current? I looked into here, and found information for copper wires, shown below. ...
plu's user avatar
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0 votes
2 answers
402 views

12 AWG galvanized steel high tensile wire okay for running 12 volt 7 A DC?

I need to run 12 VDC about 50' along a fence that already has several 12 gauge galvanized steel wires running on it. It is going to be pulling less than 7 A at most. I can make sure the lines are not ...
Hell.Bent's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
320 views

Enameled Silver Wire? [closed]

I like to use enameled copper wire where rubbery insulation would be a pain. Recently I embarked on an electronics project with some lights that would look a lot better if the wires were silver color ...
Hackstaar's user avatar
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21 votes
5 answers
5k views

Why is the PCB part number traditionally on a copper layer?

I'm an experienced board designer, having designed 100+ boards over the past decade, and I have yet to hear a good answer for why the PCB part number is traditionally on an external copper layer, and ...
Fix It Until It's Broken's user avatar
2 votes
4 answers
2k views

Calculate resistance of coil/inductor made of PCB traces

This is to be a NFC coil/inductor of 1.1uH according do ST's eDesignSuite tool, with 7 turns. The drawing above follows these parameters: ST's tool give inductance value as 1.1uH, but also I need ...
abomin3v3l's user avatar