Serious Question About Silver vs Copper Conductivity for Power


Yes, I realize that this topic is going to bring out the sharks, but if I get at least one serious response, it will all be worth it.

I understand that silver conducts 7% faster than copper.  I also understand that using a dielectric insulation like Teflon is best at keeping the wire from overheating, stopping signals entering and stopping signals from leaving the conductor. I understand that a certain amount of math is involved in selected gauge of wire depending largely on how much power the component is going to take, and how much the amperage is (20 or 15).

My question is regarding certain features applied to either silver or copper conductors that may or may not have an advantage over one or the other.

I have the Kimber Kable P14 Palladian.  This uses 14awg copper conductors insulated in Teflon.  Then it adds a massive filter that attempts to mitigate the standing wave ratio to as close to 1:1 as possible. I had Kimber’s Ascent power cable prior.  It’s identical to the Palladian, except the filter. I have heard the difference between using those two cables.  Apparently, mitigating the standing wave ratio lowers the noise floor significantly. However, any filter that chokes the signal and will slow the electrical current.

As I understand it, the amplifier works by opening the rectifier to allow the capacitors to fill with energy that the system will draw from.  Being able to keep the rectifier open and fill the capacitors as fast as possible, reducing lag time, has the effect of creating more realistic and detailed sound.

With that said, changing to a power cable that uses pure silver insulated in Teflon, will ensure that power is delivered potentially faster.  Although, the silver power cable will NOT have a filter.  Therefore the standing wave ratio will not be mitigated and the electrical signal will not be choked either.

So, would the amplifier benefit from faster electrical current or slower, but cleaner electric current?  Since this signal isn’t directly applied to sound, the concepts of “colder” or “warmer” sound should not apply.

Can someone help me out without poking fun at the question?  Additionally, I am not interested in having a cable-theory debate.  If you don’t believe cables make any difference, I will not debate or have discourse on that topic.


 

128x128guakus

Showing 5 responses by cleeds

guakus

I understand that silver conducts 7% faster than copper. 

I do not think that is correct. Silver has lower resistance than copper, but the speed of conduction is the same.

guakus


The safety violations you are claiming, are largely invented.

No, @jea48 already posted the numbers for you.

... you haven't provided any form of tangible proof that you are correct. Math is math, but where does it say that your math presents a violation of electric safety ...

@jea48 already posted the numbers for you.

You already stated:

The cable is supposed to be rated for 100 W on a 15 amp wall socket.

That's an odd way to spec a  cable, but @jea48 assumed you're running 120VAC, and noted:

100W / 120V = 0.83 amp

What's your load?

I have tested the system at full load and it wasn't even pulling 1 amp.

Based on this info and all the back-and-forth in this thread, it looks to me that you're using undersized wire here and, yes, that's potentially hazardous. I'm not sure why that isn't more clear to you.

I think we have all said the same thing in several different ways. The OP has made up his mind. Our attempts to help him understand will never persuade.

It looks like you're right. He keeps asking for "proof" that he's already provided and the math is so simple. He's using a cable that he says  is rated at 100 watts, which is .83 amps at 120VAC. Period. His load is apparently just under 1A.

guakus

...regardless of my electrical load on a 15 amp plug at 120v that single silver 28awg wire isn't going to melt; even if it is subjected to a constant 15 amp load at full 1800 watts.

Good luck with that!

guakus

Speakers don’t have a mechanical or electrical limit on quality.

You could not possibly be more mistaken.