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Post by pceng on Apr 30, 2011 12:27:10 GMT -7
I Know most will say they cut down time by using braided pick-ups. Was putting braids on some, and started wondering about using them on nickel-silver shoes. The whole point of using silver (as I understand it ), is because it is a better conductor than copper. So electric flows through it faster than copper. Seems that by putting copper braid on silver shoes one would retard the flow. Maybe the extra pressure put on rails by braids makes a differance? Has to be more pressure, the springs are compressed more. But wouldn't stretching the springs do the same? Maybe the braids kinda wrap around the rails or possibly the lenght of braid gives you a larger contact area with rail. If I ever get a timing system hooked up I'll experiment with both(picked up two stop watches from wally world yesterday). But in the mean time, is anyone using them on silver shoes? Do you find a differance in doing so? I'd appreciate any imput on this, pro con whatever. What are your thoughts on this?
..........thanks in advance, PC
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Post by SKR on Apr 30, 2011 13:42:34 GMT -7
PC, the braids do pick up current better by the way they contact the rails. Anybody know if there is any silver braid out there that would work on HO cars? I know they have it for 1/24 but think it might be too thick.
Good to hear your getting a timing system together.
Sam
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Post by 440gtx on Apr 30, 2011 17:55:39 GMT -7
I believe that the AW shoes are just nickel plated. Even if they were nickel-silver it still wouldn't be better than copper. Silver is just a little better than copper as a conductor. Nickel is a lot worse than copper. If they did mix silver and nickel the result would be a conductor that was not as good as copper. The reason that AW uses nickel shoes is that nickel is less likely to corrode or tarnish.
Gold is actually a worse conductor that copper. It is just more stable and less likely to corrode.
Matt
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Post by tjetsgrig on Apr 30, 2011 19:49:26 GMT -7
440 is correct, stay away from nickle, also gold! The braids add more "paths" for the current to flow ( multiple strands ), that's why they are a significant performance "upgrade"........
It always cracks me up when people clambor for the gold electricals........an argument usually insues.......
I just reference the metals conductivity chart.......I am still met with resistance ( no pun intended ).
Jim Sgrig
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Post by pceng on May 1, 2011 4:58:34 GMT -7
Thanks guys - Straightened things out for me. Did check a conductivity chart, intresting stuff. Resistive density kinda says it all. .............Peter
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