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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.

 

guakus
theaudiomaniac
87 posts
 

The safety violations are not invented. Knowing that takes expertise, some of the same expertise required to discern what is and is not relevant in this conversation. You seem unwilling to accept expertise that contradicts what you think you know so I will wish you good journey. I see no value in contributing further to this topic. If anyone would like to know what those violations are, feel free to message me. I do not wish to contribute here.

cleeds
6,082 posts
 
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.

fiesta75
1,378 posts
 

🙃

guakus's avatar
guakus OP
352 posts
 

@theaudiomaniac 

"The safety violations are not invented."  Of course they are.  Electrical safety regulations don't occur naturally, they have to be invented.

"If anyone would like to know what those violations are, feel free to message me. I do not wish to contribute here."  <- Code for, "I don't know the answer."
 

guakus's avatar
guakus OP
352 posts
 

@cleeds 

First of all, all this "math" is making the assumption that what is being used is bare copper wire. Copper wire has a particular rating that requires a set of math to regulate using it for electrical purposes.  Once you add insulation, shielding and other materials, that rating changes.  Changing the conductor will also impact the math.  Those algorithms are *NOT* universal to all applications, materials, regions or devices.  Hence why I ignore them. 

Until folks start backing up their statements. Such as, what safety regulation(s) is being violated? Even you have failed to do so: " it looks to me that you're using undersized wire here and, yes, that's potentially hazardous." Hazardous how and in what way and who stated this is true or is this more "guessing?"

"I'm not sure why that isn't more clear to you." <-  Because no one posting is an actual Electrical Engineer and is unable to provide any source for their statements. These are all ASSUMPTIONS and GUESSES.

I will state this for the last time:

This is SOLID SILVER wire at 28awg.  *NOT* multiple, hair-thin, strands twisted together to make 28awg. Yes, that is an important distinction.  Also, *EACH* *INDIVIDUAL* strand is insulated in Teflon. First of all, silver has an extremely high melting point (over 900F). So, 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. IN fact, the Teflon jacket has a heat rating of 500F (260C)  Therefore, if we all here waxing "scientific" and "math" and "electrical engineering" I could run my speakers on just that one 28awg insulated wire and not start a fire or short anything out. If I am wrong, prove it (spoiler alert, you can't.)

With that said, taking 20 of these silver cables means offloading heat and electric loads.  In final, it means you all are incorrect in your assessments, until you can actually prove it.  That means not just taking your word. That means going out and finding an algorithm that can determine correct awg needed for 100watts from a 120v US socket using silver wire encased in Teflon (and I wish you the best luck finding it.)

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