Dale M. wrote:Odd you should say that, I spent 38 years in telecommunications and NEVER once saw copper coated steel wire used in any place..... It just does not meet industry standards....
Dale
Industry Standards ?
I dunno, We Riding Big Yellow Vehicles installed thousands if not millions of miles all over N. America...
Declining in service for sure, But a huge percentage is still active.
Its still available to buy, But dont think much is installed nowdays, Kevlar with twisted multipair copper has been a defacto replacement the past 20 years or so...
Anyway back to wire corrosion within its insulation. Often result poor manufacturing. Low purity conductor, Contamination of conductor before going thru insulation extrusion process, or contaminates within the plastic insulation its self.
I can imagine what quality controls a thirdworld wire & cable factory might look like...
Harbor freight sources its products from where ???
Some insulation, primarily rubber will oxidise copper. Its inherent in chemistry of most rubber, sometimes steps are made to reduce this oxidation by covering the copper with cotton threads or paper before coating is applied.
None the less, Quality rubber insulated wire will last decades in a proper environment.