by Jonathan » Wed Mar 30, 2005 5:27 pm
Copper corrodes easily when not coated, it oxidizes very easily when exposed to the elements. If you were to coat copper to protect it, it would of course increase resistance. Copper requires periodic cleaning and may cause a junction (RCA to stick, basically). Silver oxidizes as well, but the corrosion cunducts current, but again any corrosion that could occur may also cause the RCA to stick in place. Gold is a noble metal and does not corrode when exposed to the elements, it also serves to protect the more vulnerable wiring such as copper and silver. Gold is also very soft, and allows it to totally form itself to the connection it is making. From a resistivity standpoint, copper would outperform gold, but only until it corrodes, which will happen fairly often in a mobile environment.
Copper corrodes easily when not coated, it oxidizes very easily when exposed to the elements. If you were to coat copper to protect it, it would of course increase resistance. Copper requires periodic cleaning and may cause a junction (RCA to stick, basically). Silver oxidizes as well, but the corrosion cunducts current, but again any corrosion that could occur may also cause the RCA to stick in place. Gold is a noble metal and does not corrode when exposed to the elements, it also serves to protect the more vulnerable wiring such as copper and silver. Gold is also very soft, and allows it to totally form itself to the connection it is making. From a resistivity standpoint, copper would outperform gold, but only until it corrodes, which will happen fairly often in a mobile environment.