Why Is Copper Wire Not Used In Potentiometers? All Reasons

This is a proper guide to discuss Why Is Copper Wire Not Used In Potentiometers? Copper wire is frequently used in potentiometers, especially resistance wire, typically created from an alloy of copper and nickel known as constantan.

Potentiometers are variable resistors used in electronic circuits to control a current or modify voltage. Because it has a low resistivity or is not extremely resistant to the flow of electric current, it may not be appropriate to utilize copper wire alone in potentiometers.

For potentiometers to give the required range of resistance values, a material with a higher resistivity is required.

The copper-nickel alloy known as Constantan, which has a higher resistance than pure copper, can be used in potentiometers. This alloy offers a consistent and predictable resistance change with temperature changes for precise performance.

Why Is Copper Wire Not Used In Potentiometers?

Copper wire is unsuitable for potentiometers because of its high-temperature coefficient of resistance and low resistivity. Because of this, even a small temperature variation can significantly impact resistance, changing the experimental conditions.

A potentiometer operates on the theory that potential drop is uniform over the length of the potentiometer wire, allowing for the calculation of potential by matching the length of the wire at the null point to a certain value of potential.

Since the conductor, by definition, permits easy current conduction, the potential drops in a resistive circuit across the resistor rather than across the conductor.

Due to its high conductivity, copper won’t exhibit a neatly falling potential throughout its length.

Therefore, using a copper wire as a potentiometer wire is not viable.

• If someone is set on using copper wire to create a potentiometer, they can choose from the following options:
• Use a very thin copper wire since its resistance will be relatively high because resistance is inversely proportional to the area of its cross-section.
• (This will be a sensitive device; the wire must be extremely thin to be useful.)
• Use a very long, thin copper wire with turns arranged closely together to fit in a length of at least 102 meters, as resistance is proportional to length. This will provide enough resistance. This potentiometer has the potential to be highly accurate if manufactured well.
• Another alternative might be only utilizing the copper wire potentiometer for calculations involving cells with extremely low EMF values. A very low EMF should also be present in the driver cell to produce the potential drop.

What Happens If A Copper Wire Is Used Instead Of The Potentiometer Wire?

Defining it isn’t easy. A variable resistor is a potentiometer. Depending on how it is configured, the variable voltage will either travel at full volume or none at all if it is used, for instance, in a volume circuit.

Bypassing a potentiometer in a voltage-dropping function will likely damage the circuit by grounding it or providing full bias voltage. A fixed resistor is utilized because the values in a digital circuit are so exact.

As a result, if your pot is bad, start by cleaning the slider with contact cleaner. If it doesn’t work, replace the pot instead of avoiding it.

Spray some cleaner in the tiny opening where the three terminals are located, then repeatedly move the control back and forth to clean the internal slider path. Because silicon is an insulator and will damage your equipment, you should NEVER use a silicon-based spray.

What Defines Copper Wire From Magnet Wire?

The most common standard type of wire is copper, which has a very low resistance (ohms/foot). As a result, it can handle more amps without overheating. However, ohms/foot has a negative impact. Please continue reading.

The magnetic effect is produced using magnet wire. Copper wire with a unique enamel covering is a magnet wire. The coating serves as an insulator, enabling the wire to be wound tightly around itself to form a coil.

Maxwell demonstrated that when a wire is wound into a coil, the electrons moving through it produce a magnetic field perpendicular to the current flow direction.

The magnetic impact is multiplied by the operation of several windings. This is known as the right-hand rule in physics.

An electromagnet is a typical gadget that employs this method. An electromagnet with a paper cone connected is an audio speaker.

Our ears will detect these audio fluctuations in the air because the music, in the form of varying voltage, forces the magnet to move the paper cone.

The enamelled insulation, then, is the answer to your question. By the way, thinner enamel improves efficiency, reduces overall size, increases wraps per cubic centimeter, enhances the magnetic effect, and creates a denser magnetic field or strength.

When he was 19, Maxwell created his electromagnetic field equations, which Einstein used to create many of his theories.

Conclusion

As you know the answer to Why Is Copper Wire Not Used In Potentiometers? Let’s conclude this talk. Depending on the particular use and requirements, potentiometers may occasionally employ additional materials like carbon composition, cermet, or conductive plastic.

Each material has pros and cons, and the selection is influenced by price, accuracy, power handling capacity, and environmental circumstances.

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