sterling silver

[bobb]

What are the advantages of using sterling silver or covering it with gold plating for light wiring?

 

[bluflaam777]

FYI, a lot of copper wire covered in Teflon is usually coated with silver. Teflon 'attacks' copper.
Something to take note of using silver is that it is stiffer and springier than copper. It can be difficult to use in tight places as it can put a stress on a solder joint that doesn't have a secondary mechanical hold. It wants to be the shape that it wants to be and to rely on just the weld joint can put a stress on said joint. It not that it can't be overcome, it just needs to be noted.
...and cost vs copper of course.

Lots of advantages over copper in heat tolerances, conductivity, anti-oxidation, it adheres more easily/better than copper.
I would use silver plated vs gold plated copper and get the same results in most common uses. Any advantages of "gold plated" copper can be met by using silver plating...and as mentioned most teflon coated copper is already silver plated.

 

[desert.snake]

For normal lighting, there is no difference. Silver is usually used in high-frequency equipment, where there is a pronounced skin effect and the lower resistance of silver can make some difference. It is all very expensive. In audio equipment, silver-plated wires or a mixture of gold and silver are also used, these games with resistance in order to achieve the desired sound signature (but more often to lighten the wallet of audiophiles)

 

[bobb]

FYI, a lot of copper wire covered in Teflon is usually coated with silver. Teflon 'attacks' copper.
Something to take note of using silver is that it is stiffer and springier than copper. It can be difficult to use in tight places as it can put a stress on a solder joint that doesn't have a secondary mechanical hold. It wants to be the shape that it wants to be and to rely on just the weld joint can put a stress on said joint. It not that it can't be overcome, it just needs to be noted.
...and cost vs copper of course.

Lots of advantages over copper in heat tolerances, conductivity, anti-oxidation, it adheres more easily/better than copper.
I would use silver plated vs gold plated copper and get the same results in most common uses. Any advantages of "gold plated" copper can be met by using silver plating...and as mentioned most teflon coated copper is already silver plated.

I posted this article after seeing that McGizmo's lights use sterling silver wiring. I see, it works in an advantageous manner because of its conductivity.

 

[bluflaam777]

Silver is 7% more conductive than copper over the same distance. IMO, in a flashlight, with the extremely short runs being used - cost vs any advantage gained would have to be weighed seriously.

You could use gold plated sterling silver if someone wanted to, right? Why not?

 

[bobb]

Silver is 7% more conductive than copper over the same distance. IMO, in a flashlight, with the extremely short runs being used - cost vs any advantage gained would have to be weighed seriously.

You could use gold plated sterling silver if someone wanted to, right? Why not?

The mystery of custom lights