TINNING WIRE

Why Use Tinned Copper Wire?

Whether applied manually or by a machine, the tinning process improves the mechanical strength of bare copper wire

Tinning wire is an essential part of soldering preparation. When done properly, it improves the operating temperature range, water resistance and mechanical strength of bare copper wire. It also prevents conductor strands from fraying when connecting a stripped wire to a termination site.

Manual tinning is a simple three-step process. After gently twisting together all the conductor strands, the worker apples a thin layer of flux to the strands and then a thin layer of solder compound.

This compound contains tin-lead or is lead-free (tin-silver-copper) and may be applied by dipping the wire end in a heated solder pot (700 to 800 F) or using spooled solder wire in conjunction with a hot solder iron. After tinning, the treated wire end is silver in color, and smooth and uniform in appearance. It quickly dries and is then soldered in place.

The practice of tinning wire has been around for as long as people have manually performed soldering. The reason is simple: Tinned wire improves soldering connection between wire and terminal.

What is Tinned Copper Wire?

Tinned copper wire is an uninsulated wire that is coated by a layer of tin. Why do you need tin-plated copper wire? Recently manufactured, fresh bare copper conductor works very well, but bare copper wire is prone to oxidation over time much more than its tinner counterpart. Oxidation of bare wire leads to its degradation and failure in electrical performance. The tin coating protects wire from oxidation in humid and rainy conditions, high heat environments, and in some soil types. Generally, tinned copper is used in environments with long-term exposure to excess moisture to prolong the lifespan of copper conductors.