Bus bar w/ copper rod

[angelodp]

Can a solid copper rod be used in place of a stripped bus bar wire?? I would select an appropriate diameter.

[Allynmey]

Yup! Just don't use to thick a piece or it will take a blow torch to solder something to it!

[Bob-I]

Yes, I use 3/32" brass bar from the local hardware store. Easy to solder and bends/holds shape well.

[angelodp]

Is brass as good a conductor as copper?

Does brass tend to be stiffer?

Can any tonal variation be heard in these materials?

Does the ground buss have any effect on tone at all?

[Andy Le Blanc]

the issue with metals is conductivity
with wire its ohms per foot
copper is the standard

if copper is a 1.....then
siver .94
Aluminium 1.7
brass 3.57
iron 5.65
lead 14.3
tin 7.7

and yes differnt metals or alloys do contribute to the
sound of an amp

for a current drain or ground bus the objective is to provided
the least restriction or impeadance to current

trying diffent metals in the signal carrying runs of your amps
dress would be the best places to tryout and listen for their
effects on your amps sonic content..... all though a guitar amp
isnt usually the best for critical listening ... give it a shot
I stumbled upon a web site on a search for silver wire that
also sold cotton sleeve material to make your own wire...

[Firestorm]

the issue with metals is conductivity
with wire its ohms per foot
copper is the standard

if copper is a 1.....then
siver .94
Aluminium 1.7
brass 3.57
iron 5.65
lead 14.3
tin 7.7

Andy,
Do you know the number for steel (like the kind used in amp chassis')? Similar to iron? More/less?

[angelodp]

Why do you suppose some ( Glasswerks ) are using brass at the buss bar with such low conductivity.

[Andy Le Blanc]

the electrical resistivity of metals is expressed in microhm-cm

copper has an electrical resistivity of 1.7 microhm-cm

aluminum is good for chassis because it does not form an oxide as
readilly as copper and has an electrical resistivity of 4 microhm-cm

plain carbon steel has an electrical resistivity of 10 microhm-cm

and stainless has an electrical resistivity of 72 microhm-cm

iron can range from "ingot" with an electrical resistivity of 9 microhm-cm
to "cast gray iron" with an electrical resistivity of 67 microhm-cm

the figures are from the "Handbook of Chemistry and Physics"

[mlp-mx6]

I like to use copper 12g wire from Nomex wire. The ground wire in there is already unsheathed. The hot and neutral wires just have simple insulation on them that is relatively easy to strip.

My 60W iron has zero trouble soldering to it. My 35W iron doesn't really struggle either, but it isn't as quick.

[Andy Le Blanc]

I had my well pump replaced five or six years back
and ended up with around 1000' of mondo guage copper
have to use a 230 w gun to stick things to it
a real pain but it seems to make a difference