I assume the metal hanger is aluminium. Unless you competely cover the metal in an insulator at the outlet legs then this will short and trip a fuse the second it is plugged in.
Sometimes wires are stranded–multiple small cores bundled together. This results in greater potential for electricity flow (per amount of copper), and results in greater flexibility of the wire. Most of the cords you deal with on a daily basis are made from stranded copper cable.
But there are cases where solid core is important for other reasons. A solid core wire is stiffer and more difficult to bend, and will typically retain whatever shape it is bent into. But pump electricity through it for decades and it’ll last a lot longer and be more reliable than its stranded counterpart. This is why your house’s wiring typically uses solid core copper–doesn’t move once installed, and reliability is kinda important when it’s inside your walls.
As the commenter below points out, I didn’t know what I was talking about. See below.
Both TO and you seem to have a sort of semi-understanding of things but you feel like you really know it, so you spread this stuff online. I hate it.
Stranded or solid is irrelevant for DC or 50/60 Hz electricity. The same cross section can carry the same current with the same voltage drop. The skin effect only starts to get relevant at much higher frequencies.
Shit, you’re right. Not sure if I was taught wrong or if I’m remembering wrong, but it seems there’s no difference at lower frequencies (my day job involves exclusively higher-frequency stuff, I thought it was universal).
Electrical engineer here. You’re mostly right–electricity does mostly flow on the outside of a conductor (a small amount does flow through the core).I was wrong abouy this part.
But based on this picture, I don’t see an insulator on the hanger wire. Which means it’ll trip a breaker or blow a fuse as soon as you plug it in. And if it’s at your crazy uncle Ned’s house, where he casually replaces his fuses with pennies, you’ll get some visitors in a fancy truck!
I don’t think that’s true, but I don’t know enough about electricity to refute it. electromagnetism, sure, but as long as the metal loops around it’ll pull in the electricity (I believe).
It mostly does use the outside (a smaller amount can run through the core).(I was wrong about this). But your point is correct–if there’s no insultation between the hanger and the contacts, it’ll conduct electricity.
Electricity flows over metal, not through it. As long as there’s an insulator on top, there shouldn’t be an issue.
Would I try it? No.
Could it work? Yes.
I assume the metal hanger is aluminium. Unless you competely cover the metal in an insulator at the outlet legs then this will short and trip a fuse the second it is plugged in.
Why are all the wires full of expensive metal if we only need the surface?
It depends!Sometimes wires are stranded–multiple small cores bundled together. This results in greater potential for electricity flow (per amount of copper), and results in greater flexibility of the wire. Most of the cords you deal with on a daily basis are made from stranded copper cable.But there are cases where solid core is important for other reasons. A solid core wire is stiffer and more difficult to bend, and will typically retain whatever shape it is bent into. But pump electricity through it for decades and it’ll last a lot longer and be more reliable than its stranded counterpart. This is why your house’s wiring typically uses solid core copper–doesn’t move once installed, and reliability is kinda important when it’s inside your walls.As the commenter below points out, I didn’t know what I was talking about. See below.
Both TO and you seem to have a sort of semi-understanding of things but you feel like you really know it, so you spread this stuff online. I hate it.
Stranded or solid is irrelevant for DC or 50/60 Hz electricity. The same cross section can carry the same current with the same voltage drop. The skin effect only starts to get relevant at much higher frequencies.
Shit, you’re right. Not sure if I was taught wrong or if I’m remembering wrong, but it seems there’s no difference at lower frequencies (my day job involves exclusively higher-frequency stuff, I thought it was universal).
Thanks for correcting me on that.
Mate, respect for this reaction.
Electrical engineer here. You’re mostly right–electricity does mostly flow on the outside of a conductor (a small amount does flow through the core).I was wrong abouy this part.But based on this picture, I don’t see an insulator on the hanger wire. Which means it’ll trip a breaker or blow a fuse as soon as you plug it in. And if it’s at your crazy uncle Ned’s house, where he casually replaces his fuses with pennies, you’ll get some visitors in a fancy truck!
I don’t think that’s true, but I don’t know enough about electricity to refute it. electromagnetism, sure, but as long as the metal loops around it’ll pull in the electricity (I believe).
Electrical engineer reporting for duty!
It mostly does use the outside (a smaller amount can run through the core).(I was wrong about this). But your point is correct–if there’s no insultation between the hanger and the contacts, it’ll conduct electricity.I beleieve it’s true with high frequency electricity, like in speakers, but not at 60hz
Bismuth or Tungsten are very low in electrical conductivity. Coat them in clear rubber and it should be a long while before there’s a short.