Solid Copper Wire

Looking to buy some Solid copper wire, but not sure what you need? TEMCo will help you pick the right solid copper wire. Call us at 877.474.8209 or view our online product selection below.


View our copper wire selection here:

Soderon 155 » GP/MR-200 »

Videos

What is Solid Copper Wire?

Solid wire is a single strand of insulated wire, as opposed to stranded wire, which contains multiple pieces of wire braided together. Copper has the highest electrical conductivity rating of all non-precious metals, which is why it is the metal most commonly used in electrical wiring.



Why choose solid copper wire?

Solid wires is typically rigid, so it is most commonly used in permanent, infrequently handled environments where the wires do not often move, including high voltage AC applications and common house wiring. Solid wire is only available in small sizes, which helps to contribute to its the inflexibility of the wire and makes it better for use in static applications.

Using solid wire, as opposed to stranded wire, has advantages and disadvantages. Its inflexibility makes it more likely to be subject to metal fatigue, which causes breaks in the wire that are a result of a wire being subjected to too much loading and unloading. In addition, solid wire is cheaper than stranded wire.

The advantages of using solid wire are its lower surface area, which decreases the likelihood of the wire corroding, and its mechanical ruggedness, which allows the wire to withstand high impacts.



Solid Copper Wire for Motor Solid Copper Wire for Speaker Solid Copper Wire for Transformer

Solid Copper Wire Specifications


Square, Round, or Rectangular/Flat Solid Copper Wire

Square wire will have less space between the wire turns as they are being formed into a coil. Because they can be wound tight, square wires are used in confined spaces and in higher power applications with a large capacity and wire gauge. In contrast, round wire will have more space between the wires while it is being wound.

The wire also comes in a rectangular/flat shape. Rectangular wires are arranged in a plane and are then laminated into a flat ribbon of flexible, insulating plastic. Rectangular wire is used on edge-wound coil springs.


Rectangular Solid Copper Wire Round Solid Copper Wire

Pictured above: Rectangular wire (left), round wire (right)

Insulated vs. Bare Solid Copper Wire

Insulated wire is covered with with some non-conducting material, such as plastic or silk, in order to protect the wire while it is being wound.

Bare wire, as the name indicates, does not have any insulation. If the turns of bare wire were to touch each other, they would short out, so if bare wire is to be wound it must be spaced out accordingly. Insulated wire can be wound so that the wires can touch, so for a wire that would require turns that number in the hundreds or thousands, insulation is a necessity.

Bare copper is better at dissipating heat than insulated wire. The inductance of the coil is not affected by the insulation, but it can increase coil losses at high frequencies.

Bare wire will be used in power sources for trains, buses, and industrial cranes. Large inductors used in transmitters might use bare copper wire that is silver plated, allowing for increased conductivity.

Insulated copper wire that has a very thin layer of insulation made out of enamel or yarn, as opposed to the thicker plastic insulations of regular solid copper wire, is called magnet wire.

Polyurethane, polyester, and polyamide are a few of the many insulations that can be used, each one with different specifications, including gauge and temperature rating.

Magnet wire is used in windings of electric motors, transformers, inductors, generators, headphones, loudspeaker coils, hard drive head positioners, electromagnets, and other devices.



Insulated Solid Copper Wire Insulated Solid Copper Wire

Pictured above: Insulated wire (left), bare wire (right)

Tinned Wire/Tin-coated Copper Wire

Tinned wire is wire coated by tin. Tin coating provides the wire with increased durability by making it more resistant to corrosion, and gives the wire higher conductivity and strength.

There are two ways that wire is tinned. The hot dip method and the electroplating method.


  • Hot Dip Process involves the tin being melted in an electric pot and the wire is then dipped in the melted tin in order to coat it.
  • Electroplating Process requires that the wire be coated in a solution containing tin salts. The wire is then connected to an electrical circuit that will be passed through the wire. This causes the metal ions in the solution to bond with the wire and coat it.

Tinned Solid Copper Wire

Where can I purchase my Solid Copper Wire?

Click the links below to view the solid copper wire selection offered by TEMCo. We carry different gauges, temperature ratings and insulations. TEMCo can give you quotes on any wire you might need, so give us a call today!

View Soderon 155 Wire Selection View GP/MR-200 Wire Selection
Call us at 877.474.8209