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.

 
 
 
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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.

Find Out Why


TECHNICAL DOCUMENT

Fusing Performance Flyer

Cross-reference the fusing currents of Copperweld® conductors.

Download the Flyer

Learn More

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

by Peter Graser

Read Article

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

by Peter Graser

Read Article

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.  

powergrid@copperweld.com        615-377-4200