[chewy]

This was mentioned in another thread, is this a cheap alternative to solid copper busbars?

 

[ScooterMcGavin]

Iron core refers to what the windings are wrapped around in an electromagnetic device such as a motor, generator, transformer, reactor, inductor, etc. The iron core greatly increases the strength of the magnetic field and helps contain the field. When the core is something that's non magnetic such as plastic then its referred to as an air core.

 

[Meadow]

This was mentioned in another thread, is this a cheap alternative to solid copper busbars?

Iron isn't used to conduct electricity at least it shouldn't be. I think you thinking of motors and transformers to transfer magnetic induction.

 

[dronai]

Iron isn't used to conduct electricity at least it shouldn't be. I think you thinking of motors and transformers to transfer magnetic induction.

Some people use rebar in place of copper busbars to cut costs

 

[KDC]

Some people use rebar in place of copper busbars to cut costs

Is that anyone legitimate, who actually knows what they're doing? Or is it the same people who use EMT to replace fuses? :laughing:

 

[8V71]

Is that anyone legitimate, who actually knows what they're doing? Or is it the same people who use EMT to replace fuses? :laughing:

Brass shotgun shells work better and they alert you if things get too hot.

 

[erics37]

A few years ago in my apprentice class we made a ghetto transformer with a 2500' spool of #12, a 500' spool of #14, and a tire iron.

 

[dronai]

Is that anyone legitimate, who actually knows what they're doing? Or is it the same people who use EMT to replace fuses? :laughing:

This guy is legit.

 

[dronai]

Is that anyone legitimate, who actually knows what they're doing? Or is it the same people who use EMT to replace fuses? :laughing:

Here.

 

[erics37]

Here.

Looks like less than 360 degrees of bend to me.

 

[Big John]

I think we've all tried a "knee bend" at one time or another when a pipe just needed a hair of a tweak. What you've got right there in that picture is known as an "ass bend."

 

[Big John]

And as far as iron conductors goes, iron has a high resistivity. It would take about six times the surface area of iron to equal the same current-carrying capacity as copper, so it ends up not being viable, especially given that it's just as heavy.

Add in the fact that it very readily oxidizes so all connections would have to be plated, it just doesn't make economic sense. UL489 actually specifically prohibits iron for current-carrying parts in breakers.

 

[dronai]

Chemical Elements

Metal conductors in order of conductance:

Silver
Copper - Electron valence +1
Gold
Aluminum
Iron - Electron valence +2

Both elements have ; 2 electrons on the inner K shell, 8 on the L shell, 18 for cu on the M shell, and 14 for iron. Both elements have an incomplete unstable low number of electrons in the outermost valence shell, which makes good unstable electrons.

According to these rules you would think iron would be a very good conductor.

Actually according to their Atomic number, Copper is 29, and Iron is 26

 

[erics37]

According to these rules you would think iron would be a very good conductor.

It's a good enough conductor to serve as an effective ground fault current path in the case of metal conduit/raceways.