aluminum vs copper bus bar

[Bigg Boy]

I am going to get some bus bars for my new setup.

I am looking at some .5"x2" bus bars

Bars would be about 24" wide and would link my batteries listed in my sig.

The pure copper bars would about $100, the aluminum would be like $25

Would I really see a big difference between the two?

What's the plus's and minus's t both?

[zfrerichs]

from what i understand copper is a better conductor than aluminum.

thats what you see copper wire being better than aluminum clad wire.

it will work but........ but its not the best, the aluminum im talking about

[brewer_brewer]

^^^yep.

if you can afford the copper then go that route.

otherwise just get some thicker or wider aluminum and it will be about equal to the copper.

[Bigg Boy]

thats my understanding, but I see some of the big dogs using aluminum, so thats what is making me question it.

[javy101]

Not to dog on steve or anything but if copper is better wouldnt he use it in his tahoe or does it not make that much of a difference for him not to use it? Once again not to dog on steve

[Iraggi Alternator]

you wont notice any difference...

These had 15,000 amps going thru them with .1 volt drop across them. 1.25 x 2.000 x 36" Aluminum

[andym85]

copper is a bit better...u just need a little more surface area with aluminum...aint gonna be a huge difference though

oh...and copper is a lot more expensive!!!!!!

[Bigg Boy]

^^^yep.

if you can afford the copper then go that route.

otherwise just get some thicker or wider aluminum and it will be about equal to the copper.

I cant go much thicker, and I don't wanna go much wider

[Chris from Mi]

i've had a long time question to this, if electrons are on the outside of a conductor, wouldnt buss bars conduct far worse than 1/0 wire with the thousands of strands in it?

[brewer_brewer]

^^^^Thats not a buss bar. that is an aluminum 2x4 cut in half.