Free shipping on US orders $299.99 and up

Copper and Nickel-plating are both good options for your AC WORKS® brand products, conductivity, longevity, and overall quality of the product.  There are pros and cons to each type of material used and learning these will only benefit you when purchasing your next power adapter or cord.  

Copper is prone to corrosion.  Providing a protective layer to your conductive components can help to avoid corrosion and will avoid the reduction of conductivity by corroded materials.  The conductivity of copper can be reduced when corrosion occurs. 

There are two groups of materials available to coat your copper forming a protective barrier.  The first group is called Noble metals and the second is Passive metals.  Some of our AC WORKS® brand products are coated with nickel plating.  Nickel is in the passive metal group.  Passive metals are used in the corrosion protection of many electrical contacts. 

Nickel-plated pins on AC WORKS™ brand AD650L630 compact adapter.

Nickel coating is very hard and durable, 150HV to 700HV.  HV stands for Vickers hardness, which measures the hardness of materials. It is perfect for electrical use because of the resistance to heavily used products, especially those used for sliding contacts.  It is commonly used to plate other metals that easily experience corrosion because it is highly resistant unless you expose it to extreme humidity.  It is easy to clean and more conductive than tin but not as good as gold.  Nickel-plating is used to save costs over using a solid piece of nickel.     

The ability of a metal to transmit energy is conductivity.  There is more than one type of conductivity.  These types include electrical, thermal, and acoustical.  In our case we are talking about electrical conductivity and the second most conductive metal element is copper.  Silver ranks the highest on this list but is typically skipped over for copper because it is less expensive.  Nickel is another metal that has a high electrical conductivity. 

Copper is the best conductive material within a reasonable price and nickel-plating is not required by any codes or laws.  As you read above there are many positives to using nickel over copper.  We have combined the two elements in some of our products.  The products listed as nickel-plated are plated over copper prongs to protect their metal surfaces from corrosion. 

Rust and Corrosion

Although copper is a good conductive material should it rust it will no longer be good to you.  The plating we use is there to protect the longevity of your purchase.  However, we should also mention the environment you will be putting your AC WORKS® brand products into.  If you are in a boat or RV where there may be water or humidity you will want that nickel-plating.  If you are using your products in a dry location with relatively stable conditions like your home, the copper will be just as good if not better. 

AC WORKS® brand product examples:

   

AD650L630 AC WORKS™ brand compact adapter

An example of an AC WORKS® brand nickel-plated product is the AD650L630

This product is made of durable construction, is compact in size so you can fit it in tight spaces and corners with no problem, and has nickel-plated pins and terminals to resist corrosion.   

WD1430650-018 AC WORKS™ brand flexible adapter

An example of a non-nickel-plated AC WORKS® brand product is the WD1430650-018

This product is made very durable and of heavy-duty construction.  It is also able to perform and stay protected in extreme temperatures due to its STW, 10/3, 600 Volt 30 Amp cable with an anti-cold weather jacket providing protection. 

If you have any questions or comments on this or other topics leave them in the comments below and share this article with anyone you think is interested.  Thank you for being a loyal reader, any topic ideas you have can be shared with Stephanie.

Stephanie Junek - Marketing Manager for Cordtec Power Corp.

2 comments

  • Amy Saunders
    • Amy Saunders
    • January 20, 2022 at 9:41 am

    Hey there! I found it quite intriguing when you pointed out that nickel plating is highly affordable and sturdy as well. My brother wants to buy some electrical appliances for his apartment. I’ll ask him to take a closer look into this matter when he makes a purchase. https://easternplating.com/

  • Deanna Lynne
    • Deanna Lynne
    • June 2, 2021 at 4:29 pm

    Thanks for explaining that copper is a good plating option if we need a conductive material. My cousin mentioned he wants to get some sort of electroplating for his industrial parts to improve their performance. I’ll share this info to help him understand the unique characteristics of different plating materials. https://www.smfi.net/

Leave a comment

Please note, comments need to be approved before they are published.

This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Latest Stories

View all

Understanding Electrical Arcing: Causes, Signs, and Solutions

Understanding Electrical Arcing: Causes, Signs, and Solutions

Electrical arcing can be a serious problem that may lead to melted plugs, damaged outlets, or even fires. While it can be challenging to identify the root cause, knowing where and why it happens is crucial to maintaining safe and...

Read more

Why 220-Volt Equipment Won’t Work on 110-Volt Outlets

Why 220-Volt Equipment Won’t Work on 110-Volt Outlets

When it comes to powering high-demand appliances like heaters, dryers, or air conditioning units, one common question arises: Can I use my 220-volt appliance with a 110-volt outlet? The short answer is no, and in this post, we’ll explain why....

Read more

Get Ready for Winter with ACWORKS: Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals!

Get Ready for Winter with ACWORKS: Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals!

As fall fades and winter creeps closer, it’s time to make sure you’re prepared for the season ahead! With Black Friday and Cyber Monday right around the corner, we’re thrilled to offer some exclusive deals to help you stay powered...

Read more