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A 250' roll of 14-2 copper wire has about 9.5 pounds of copper in it and another 5 pounds of vinyl based insulation. At current copper prices, that roll of wire has about $45 worth of copper in it.
At 10% monthly inflation it will only take 11 months for the copper content to be worth your initial purchase price of $125.
Furthermore, 14-2 copper wire has basic utility that other precious metals do not offer. In addition to being electrical wire, it can be pressed into use for Cervical Vertebrae Elongation Therapy. Be mindful that it should not be used for "patients" who weigh more than 300 pounds since 3 strands of 1/4-hard copper wire has a yield load of 380 pounds. It is also useful to mark a 5' length and to replace it when the marked distance measures 6'-6" in length.
Where does the copper go?
2100 square-foot house: 440 pounds (200 pounds wire, 175 pounds plumbing, remainder is miscellaneous applications). Note, use increases rapidly with smaller rooms since NEC mandates a power-outlet every 12' of wall. Use also increases rapidly with additional bathrooms and kitchenettes.
1000 square-foot apartment: 280 pounds
Electric vehicle (battery power only): 180 pounds
EV Level 2 charging station: 15 pounds copper + Wire from Station to Service box
Electric bus/delivery vehicle: 800 pounds
Don't forget using it for copper washing homemade 'acorn tips' lest you foul your cordless hole punch machine.
ReplyDeleteTexas Fred
Great point.
DeleteA couple years ago 12/2 was $62 for 250 ft; in the store 2 weeks ago it was $245 for 250 ft...
ReplyDeleteWoulda-shoulda-coulda.
DeleteIt says as much about the US Dollar and our crippling regulatory environment as it does about the escalating market for copper.
And really thats the lesson to impart (how I teach it to my kids):
DeleteThat 250 feet of copper wire, did it change at all from 3 years ago? Still sitting on the shelf in the factory shrink wrap? Surely aged copper transmits electricity more efficiently making it more desireable (ergo expensive)? No? Same stinking roll, eh?
Then, whats changed in the equation?
.... for my kids I use a candy bar, as thats what they can relate to. If the person responds with garbage about corporate profit margins, you have found a black-hole, move away most expediently.
Yup. I have a bunch from the past, both 12 and 14 gauge, I'm glad I'm not in the market now.
ReplyDeleteI've seen escalate before, then drop back down. We'll see what it does this time...