COPPERWELD® POWER GRID
Superior Grounding
Solutions

Grounding built to last
Grounding solutions provide the protective circuit in power and telecommunication systems. Threats from lighting, trees, or animals cause power surges that can hurt people, start wildfires, damage equipment, and cause blackouts. Copperweld conductors are engineered to dissipate energy safely into the ground and are more reliable — more likely to still be in place years after installation — than copper wire.

Do you have some broken pole grounds? Give us a call: 615-377-4184
Copperweld feels just like Copper
Think Copperweld is too stiff to work with it? Not anymore. In the past, some engineers selected large-stranded steel-core Copperweld products that maximized survivability but were challenging to install. Working with linemen, Copperweld engineers developed smaller-stranded alternatives that were optimized for both performance and ease-of-use.

Copperweld performs just like Copper
How good is Copperweld, really? We asked ourselves the same question. By simulating short circuit fault currents at the world's best high power test labs, our engineering team has discovered the true limit of Copperweld grounding solutions. The results were surprising. In response, CDEGS added Copperweld Century Wire by name to the SES conductor library.
Copperweld is more reliable than Copper
There's a new way to quantify the reliability of grounding conductors. When you consider Theft, Corrosion, Loose Connectors and Breaks it is possible to quantify the expected number of failures over a 30-year service life. This calculation proves that Copperweld is 17% more reliable than copper.
The problem with copper
Arcing is the enemy. Throughout the power grid, soft copper grounding circuits can be found broken or missing entirely. When the protective grounding circuit is incomplete, lightning or short circuiting energy finds it's own path to ground by arcing to it.
17% better than copper
Copperweld grounding solutions are 17% more reliable than equivalent copper. Why? Because the electrons flow along the outside of the conductor. Copperweld takes advantage of this 'skin effect' using a steel core to strengthen the conductor. The result is a conductor that performs just like copper in grounding applications but has the strength to deter threats from theft, wind, loosening, and breakage.

Theft
Copper pole grounds are an easy target for theft. Copperweld’s solid steel core and unextractable, unscrappable copper skin have zero street value — making it unattractive to copper thieves.

Corrosion
Copper has excellent corrosion resistance. Copperweld's corrision resistance is equivalent. The inter-diffusion between copper and steel creates a permanent bond, protecting the inner steel core.

Loose connectors
Copper is sensative to overtightening. Linemen use battery-operated tools that always overtighten connections. Copperweld's steel core is made for overtightening — no problem.

Breaks
Copper is soft and susceptible to breaks caused by ground heave (freezing and thawing), work-hardening from the wind, and even bumps from lawn mowers. No conductor is stronger than Copperweld.
The superior choice for grounding
Copperweld grounding solutions bend in the field like copper, perform in a short circuit or lightning event like copper, but are 17% more likely to be there when it counts. The ideal grounding conductor is one that has the electrical properties of copper and the strength of steel. Copperweld is a proven solution, installed throughout the power grid for over 100 years.
Total cost reduction
Protect your power network, your equipment, your people and your pocket, too. With prices comparable to plain copper, Copperweld’s long life means big savings over time.

Available in a variety of finishes
Our superior grounding solutions come in traditional Bare Copperweld, as well as Camo and Hide. Camo is a properietary finish that looks like aged galvanized steel for theft prevention but does not require stripping for installation. Hide is a jacketed product. Camo and Hide are avialble in all product sizes.

Compatible with all standard connectors
Copperweld® easily interfaces with standard mechanical, swage, and exothermic (thermite) connectors and can be bent with common field tools. Call us today for help with connector sizing.

Ready to install
Copperweld Brand Wire offers the only copper-welded steel core grounding wire made in the USA. Genuine Copperweld brand products are distributed solely by Copperweld Bimetallics. If there’s a scenario you want to protect your power grid against, we have exactly what you need to keep your operations well grounded.
Do you need a budgetary or a bid quote? Give us a call: 615-377-4184
DOCUMENT DOWNLOAD
Century Grid™ Brochure
The most demanding applications demand Copperweld.

TECHNICAL DOCUMENT
Fusing Performance Flyer
Cross-reference the fusing currents of Copperweld® conductors.

Learn More

Part 1: Copper Clad Aluminum Building Wire for Use in Residential Branch Circuit Wiring
by Peter Graser

Part 2: Copper Clad Aluminum Building Wire for Use in Residential Branch Circuit Wiring
by Peter Graser

Short Circuit Performance Test: Standard Copper versus Copperweld Bare Ground Wire (at 47,000 Amps)
2017 Lab Video
Ready to consider Copperweld?
Whether you are a grounding software developer, a substation designer, a standards engineer inside a utility company, or a lineman in the field, we look forward to answering your questions.