Silver plated contacts

Status
Not open for further replies.

imeothanasis

Unregistered Supplier
ECF Veteran
Feb 13, 2009
47,882
34,510
Athens, Hellas
gg-goldengreek.com
Steve, thats one more myth between a lot of ones on e-cig industry. I have heard a lot of things that are just not true.

About silver contacts, I have already said that only pure silver rod is better than a solid brass or copper piece. In fact, silver plating or any other metal plating decrease conductivity in reality. Its always better to have a solid piece of a metal that has very good conductivity like brass or copper than plating of any kind. I am not talking about the fact that the plating will soon leave the plated surface and the conductivity will be the worst. We know that because I first plated contacts 3 years ago and I will not do it again. I am talking about something simple. Ok, lets see some physics here. The plated contact has a very thin layer of another metal on its surface. Its so thin that current cant pass well from it but it pass well only from the metal under the plating because it has great mass. So plating not only is not better but its worse. Thats why I only use raw metals and shined of course to increase conductivity even more.

Plating is good only for contacts that let miliamperes pass via them. Its not good at all on devices like e-cigs because we use a lot of amperes via our wires

Myths are not welcome at least on GG forum, we always have to say the truth to all people.
 

Itshak

Ultra Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Sep 11, 2013
1,743
3,631
Israel
Just few words to clear things for all viewers.

Silver plating or 24k gold plating are use in the audio/video for totally different reasons.
In audio video we put connection that design for a long time (years) without constantly remove it.
Let's take an Amplifier and Speakers as a model (though it can be cd to amp or DVD to home cinema amp)
The wire use to connect l is usually pure coper because it's the best conductive materiel per money.
(The best of all is gold but it's not economic for obvious reason.
But as we know copper tarnish very fast!
The problem happen in the contact point were the wire is expose.
So some use banana plug that the wire connect to them is seal at the contact point,
And the Banana plug is coat with 24k gold or silver,depend on the frequency Hz you prefer.
High frequency run better on silver!
1)the contact is not something that remove every day like atty.
2)the audio pulse is AC with very short burst on different frequencies (milliseconds).
Audio frequencies run mostly on the outer surface and not in the core,despite what most think.
Some cables are made from pure silver wire strands and that depend on cost applications and preference
Of sound in general.

Now Vaping is totally something different.
Here we scrub and remove contacts on daily basis so plating won't do good.
Regarding the feel of vape that's totally pathetic,any clean contact of brass or copper
If have big contact area and core can do the gob even SS only!! That's right even SS only,if kept clean.
For such short run.
We don't care in vaping for frequency variations that un detectable at all,
But we must have durability and conductivity,any metal have conductivity as you know and in theory
every metal can work as long as it's not toxic to the vapers.
This is really only on the age of things and if one want he can dig deeper to this,but don't look
On vaping place for such knowledg it's not there in most places.
The only place that I few time regard this all issue is here by Imeo.
But as you see to explain this only on the age of things take a lot writing,so never wanted
To get into this.
But since the GG captain refer to the matter and Imeo explain some,I must make respect
and help close this issue as it's not worth the time.
Please if one want to dig more and find more on the subject,you can visit audio/video site
And to read miles of writing on this all for better knowledge.

Imeo time after time I see you know better the any:)
 
Last edited:

Corona Doble

Senior Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Nov 20, 2013
203
440
Paris, France
Hi, i totally agree but just a precision : silver is the best metal for conductivity (siemens by meter) not gold wich have less conductivity than brass or copper, but remains far better than steel.
Another myth : silver does not loose at all any conductivity when oxydised. And a wish : due to the historic tradition of sterling silver items of 'personal equipment' (any zippo or pen in silver taking dust in a tray around you ?), sometimes seen hand-engraved mods, i think one day will see a sleeve, a tube or a ful GG in silver. With, concerning vaping, a perfect 'technical good reason' ;)
 

imeothanasis

Unregistered Supplier
ECF Veteran
Feb 13, 2009
47,882
34,510
Athens, Hellas
gg-goldengreek.com
Thats the trick gh, I am glad you see it. But maybe its not a trick, its because some modders do believe its better. Dont think that everyone really knows what he does
Plated contacts, in general, always seemed like a bad idea to me for something like this but plating with precious metals, in addition to being a bad idea, always seemed more like silly marketing hype than anything else to me.
 

imeothanasis

Unregistered Supplier
ECF Veteran
Feb 13, 2009
47,882
34,510
Athens, Hellas
gg-goldengreek.com
High frequency run better on silver!

You said exactly the right thing Its. We dont use high frequency on e-cigs, especially to the mechanical ones where you see the most of plating these days

Also, plating is used only on fixed contacts and only were small current pass. We dont do that on moving ones.

We have bust enough myths on GG forum when no one else is talking about them Its. People want to believe what they want to believe, and much time is needed to change their minds.



Just few words to clear things for all viewers.

Silver plating or 24k gold plating are use in the audio/video for totally different reasons.
In audio video we put connection that design for a long time (years) without constantly remove it.
Let's take an Amplifier and Speakers as a model (though it can be cd to amp or DVD to home cinema amp)
The wire use to connect l is usually pure coper because it's the best conductive materiel per money.
(The best of all is gold but it's not economic for obvious reason.
But as we know copper tarnish very fast!
The problem happen in the contact point were the wire is expose.
So some use banana plug that the wire connect to them is seal at the contact point,
And the Banana plug is coat with 24k gold or silver,depend on the frequency Hz you prefer.
High frequency run better on silver!
1)the contact is not something that remove every day like atty.
2)the audio pulse is AC with very short burst on different frequencies (milliseconds).
Audio frequencies run mostly on the outer surface and not in the core,despite what most think.
Some cables are made from pure silver wire strands and that depend on cost applications and preference
Of sound in general.

Now Vaping is totally something different.
Here we scrub and remove contacts on daily basis so plating won't do good.
Regarding the feel of vape that's totally pathetic,any clean contact of brass or copper
If have big contact area and core can do the gob even SS only!! That's right even SS only,if kept clean.
For such short run.
We don't care in vaping for frequency variations that un detectable at all,
But we must have durability and conductivity,any metal have conductivity as you know and in theory
every metal can work as long as it's not toxic to the vapers.
This is really only on the age of things and if one want he can dig deeper to this,but don't look
On vaping place for such knowledg it's not there in most places.
The only place that I few time regard this all issue is here by Imeo.
But as you see to explain this only on the age of things take a lot writing,so never wanted
To get into this.
But since the GG captain refer to the matter and Imeo explain some,I must make respect
and help close this issue as it's not worth the time.
Please if one want to dig more and find more on the subject,you can visit audio/video site
And to read miles of writing on this all for better knowledge.

Imeo time after time I see you know better the any:)
 
Last edited:

imeothanasis

Unregistered Supplier
ECF Veteran
Feb 13, 2009
47,882
34,510
Athens, Hellas
gg-goldengreek.com
silver does not loose at all any conductivity when oxidised
Are out there people that really believe that Corona?

And one small correction: Gold is better than brass

But all depends on mass. The greater the mass, the better the conductivity. We cant base the conductivity on mods that accept crazy amounts of current to a just 30μm layer, its just silly

Hi, i totally agree but just a precision : silver is the best metal for conductivity (siemens by meter) not gold wich have less conductivity than brass or copper, but remains far better than steel.
Another myth : silver does not loose at all any conductivity when oxydised. And a wish : due to the historic tradition of sterling silver items of 'personal equipment' (any zippo or pen in silver taking dust in a tray around you ?), sometimes seen hand-engraved mods, i think one day will see a sleeve, a tube or a ful GG in silver. With, concerning vaping, a perfect 'technical good reason' ;)
 
Last edited:

Bishopheals

Reviewer / Blogger
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
May 23, 2012
2,266
1,772
50
Staten Island
www.youtube.com
I see several mods employing silver plated contacts and am wondering if anyone knows if there are any conductivity benefits over solid brass. I'm also wondering if there are any health hazards related to the chemical plating process employed?

I'm going to put this up for informational purposes only. not to really make a huge debate over it. In this list you will find best metals and what place they fall and how much conductivity you get. i think it pretty much speaks for itself. The column to look at is the electrical conductivity it will show the how conductive it is verses the other metals.

940831_10200590741245892_157177800_n.jpg
 

soulseek

Ultra Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Aug 12, 2013
1,176
1,503
London, UK
Tarnished silver has lower conductivity but it's still conductive. Taking into account that it's a very small layer than you won't see a significant difference. Furthermore, the oxidised layer rubs off easily and therefore silver is by far the best conductor, assuming we're talking about solid contacts, not plated.
 

CaptSteve

Airborn ECF Guru
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Nov 20, 2011
14,537
40,523
41,000ft at M 0.85
Thanks guys, I think Imeo and several of you summed it up nicely that nothing beats solid materials as opposed to plated surfaces. Bish thanks for that conductivity table, very interesting to see the differences. I actually thought gold would out weigh silver but I was wrong.
Thanks again guys
 
While the conductivity is superior in silver over copper (which is better than gold), plating doesn't do much. With high amps, it tends to cause a galvanic reaction between the metals, decaying one or the other faster than it would have otherwise.

The only argument I can make for (expensive) silver is when space is an absolute premium. That's the only time I'd even faintly consider silver wire, and it would have to be silver throughout, not plated. I could use a slightly thinner wire than I could with copper--but it's pretty marginal regardless. I've never been in that situation and just use insulated or coated copper wire, depending on the task.

Call me a purist, but I'm a fan of pure brass or stainless steel contacts. For something that doesn't get unscrewed and replaced often, pure copper is fine, the slight tarnishing won't matter.
 

Itshak

Ultra Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Sep 11, 2013
1,743
3,631
Israel
The diagram is correct from some aspect but there is more to it
Much more.
the different are micro simense,if you not runing 50 yard lenght
Of wire what make any one think he can feel different on contact point only ;)
We are not high sensitiv multimeters.
,and like this table here that is vey good in general there are more,
that Illuminate different aspect from more perspective as conductivity is not the same for any frequency,
Or tarnish periods,or chemical interactions between metals,and the soming of all put the gold a bove the rest!
The problems with oxidizing from chemical reaction between diffrent metal eliminate
Those micro siemence like benefits and copper suffer from those less per cost!
This is no simple metter to understand totally by any single post or diagram.
Becouse not every buddy see what the numbers give in every day life
Or what happen to those numbers if contacts are not clean.
Cleaner contacts far more problem,in such a short run,then material.
If one want to cover all expect of it then there are month of reading befor him.
We can spend gasoline on this for days,and there be more to it.
Just remembering the years I spend to make choice for my HI FI cables,and the money I put into this
Make me tired and grumpy again.
If one want this is no end story.
And there are many more
On audio quest site (US majore speakers cables manufacture)
And van Der hull site ( EU majore speaker cable manufacture)
Or any Hi Fi forums and magazine.
We cannot detact less then 0.1 ohm changes any way in vaping.
And remembers electric companies use brass and SS contacts for high voltage
Application when durability is more importent the litlle if any in conductivity.
I belive all here want there best intent to help to other,yet the subject is detailes wide.


edit: if I may add,I never felt any notable differ between BRASS GG to SS GG.
and Ithaka center post is SS yet hit like a train.
 
Last edited:

imeothanasis

Unregistered Supplier
ECF Veteran
Feb 13, 2009
47,882
34,510
Athens, Hellas
gg-goldengreek.com
What I dont really like are myths Its, thats why I often see mythbusters on TV. And because people believe anything they hear sometimes, thats why this TV show exists and thats why I like it.

My father was a policeman and one day he had to arrest a person that was saying nonsenses about a woman in our village. All people thought he was right, when he confess that it was a rumor that he spread 1 month ago.

And thats why there are different opinions out there. Its because truth is hidden between those opinions and you have to try hard to find it. Sciolism is much worse than ignorance because it makes more people think wrong
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Users who are viewing this thread