[Zorander]

I recently bought a run of 4-core microphone cable to make an 0404 breakout cable. But upon stripping the ends, I realised the wires are silver-/aluminium-coloured, not the reddish brown copper I expected. Is this just tinned copper (tinned with what?) or is it just some 'alternative' metal used in place of copper? It's definitely not silver.

 

[gsteinb88]

Its possibly silver tinned/coated coppper.
-g

 

[Garbz]

Tinned with Tin.

Most likely anyway. Not uncommon in cables.

 

[Zorander]

Thanks for the answers, guys. So can I rest assured the conductors are still copper anyway (not some other cheaper, more inferior metal conductor)?

 

[gsteinb88]

Shave a tiny little bit off and you will likely see copper.
-g

 

[Garbz]

The downside is ofcourse that the electrons at audio frequencies travel across the surface of the conductor, so it's running along the tin

. Mind you try it and see if you can hear a difference.

 

[Zorander]

I completed the breakout cable already, but since I don't have the 0404 with me right now, there is no way to test it. I'm still unsure whether I have copper in there or some other metal at this stage. What other metals can possibly be used in this case? Tin?

 

[Paragon]

Copper.

 

[splaz]

rubydium.

My best bet would be copper. Possibly it's just solid tin.

Just go and shave/file the wire. If it's got copper in it you'll see it with reddy brown curls or powder or the core will be revealed where you've shaved off the outer layer.

 

[Zorander]

I don't relish the prospect of having to reterminate the breakout cable just to see if I have copper or pure tin in there.

Is it really possible to have 100% tin in a wire (as opposed to the normally used copper)?

 

[Xakepa]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garbz The downside is ofcourse that the electrons at audio frequencies travel across the surface of the conductor, so it's running along the tin . Mind you try it and see if you can hear a difference.

You mean skin-effect? No way - even at 20KHz max penetration depth is ~0.5mm (thicker than the wire), while coating is microns. I bet at least 99% of "audio" power (20-20) goes thru the copper.

 

[thedoctor]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zorander I completed the breakout cable already, but since I don't have the 0404 with me right now, there is no way to test it. I'm still unsure whether I have copper in there or some other metal at this stage. What other metals can possibly be used in this case? Tin?

copper alloy? i also found that my AWG28s has no brownish copper color to it even at the core. and thus searched the web and found that it's using Tinned Annealed Copper Alloy.
it looks perfectly silvery, without any brownish signature.

 

[Zorander]

Quote:

Originally Posted by thedoctor copper alloy? i also found that my AWG28s has no brownish copper color to it even at the core. and thus searched the web and found that it's using Tinned Annealed Copper Alloy. it looks perfectly silvery, without any brownish signature.

This is what I suspect. Any info on how it performs for audio duties?

 

[thedoctor]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zorander This is what I suspect. Any info on how it performs for audio duties?

have no idea. i'm not exactly into 'wire sound'. at least i could safely say i'm not a wire fetish.

but the datasheet did said it's recomended for audio usage. mine is an AWG28 multicored with teflon sleeving.

 

[Zorander]

I don't exactly know about mine, but it's definitely bigger than the 24AWG wires used in those ethernet cables, i.e. 18-20AWG likely. If yours works alright, then I suppose mine will work perfectly great too.