Silver plating

[Berner]

I'm sure this has been discussed but I've searched and can't find much. Is there any real point to silver plating the electrical contacts in a mech mod? It sounds like a good idea, but on reflection you are just putting an additional layer (of silver) onto the brass or copper contacts, and I don't see how that would reduce voltage drop across the circuit. I could see maybe replacing the contacts entirely with silver, but I don't get the plating rationale. Obviously not an electrical engineer, what am I missing?

 

[kaddigart]

From all that I've read on it (not an engineer either) it would probably depend on what was between them and everything else. That is, silver plated contacts would have much less resistance, but if they're connected with cheap wire the point is moot. It'd be like putting performance tires on a Pinto.

But plating in itself would effectively make the contacts perform as silver, at least until it wore off. Silver is soft compared to something like nickel.

 

[BardicDruid]

If the plating is done correctly, it's bonded to the brass or copper, with harder metals it can't bond. Effectively, it makes the part function like a solid silver one but with reinforcement internally, but life span is determined by how thick it is. And one thing many people forget about is that silver will tarnish just like brass and copper, and the conductance really isn't all that better.

 

[DrBeaker]

If the plating is done correctly, it's bonded to the brass or copper, with harder metals it can't bond. Effectively, it makes the part function like a solid silver one but with reinforcement internally, but life span is determined by how thick it is. And one thing many people forget about is that silver will tarnish just like brass and copper, and the conductance really isn't all that better.

sterling silver which you maybe quite aware of does tarnish is quite readily. Pure silver does not tarnish as easily that is most likely what you would be plating with.if you want to plate for looks I can see that. Platting copper with silver would make such little difference on the conductivy for what your doing I don't see how it would be worth the time or money unless like i said your doing it for looks. If you want to protect your copper contacts you could simply tin the contacts with soulder. You could even use silver solder. Nice bright shiny coper contacts can be maintained with a thin layer of oil perhaps triflo. Now plating with Rhodium commonly used to plate switch contacts wolud be nice if you could do it.

 

[Berner]

From all that I've read on it (not an engineer either) it would probably depend on what was between them and everything else. That is, silver plated contacts would have much less resistance, but if they're connected with cheap wire the point is moot. It'd be like putting performance tires on a Pinto.

But plating in itself would effectively make the contacts perform as silver, at least until it wore off. Silver is soft compared to something like nickel.

Darn, so you think I should take the fancy tires off my Pinto? Doesn't go any faster but there is the cool factor.....

 

[classwife]

moved to the Modding Forum from Battery mods

 

[kaddigart]

Darn, so you think I should take the fancy tires off my Pinto? Doesn't go any faster but there is the cool factor.....

There is that...I meant to imply that it would be a useless modification unless you had good components to bridge points a and b. Cool Pinto be damned, throw those tires on a Shelby Mustang and the performance increase would be significant.