Solid Copper Contacts - To Plate Or Not? Advice Needed

[e30ernest]

Hello,

A local vape shop is offering plating services for contacts and pins. My mod already has solid copper contacts and pins. Would it be worthwhile to plate it? Plating options include gold, silver and rhodium.

The prices seem pretty cheap enough, about $2 for silver, $3 for gold and $5 for rhodium. I've read the rhodium thread and understand that this is just to protect against corrosion. Should I just go for that instead?

Thanks!

 

[Innocuous]

Silver has the highest conductance, but can tarnish and is soft;
Gold has the next highest conductance, but is soft;
Rhodium (not sure of conductance), but is more durable.

 

[e30ernest]

Thanks! Would the weakest conductive link be the limiting factor though? In other words, would the copper base render the conductivity of Silver or Gold moot?

New to all this and I'm looking forward to learning how all these work.

 

[asdaq]

Copper conducts just fine, but is not resistant to corrosion and is soft. Keep in mind the plating will wear off as it is thin, but those prices are quite reasonable, especially if it is not per piece but per small batch.

 

[State O' Flux]

All previous posts have valid points to consider. Here's another... unless you are running sub ohm coils, I don't think you'll be able objectively notice a marked improvement in your vaping experience. Certainly, every little bit helps, but there is a point of diminishing returns. Saying that, it's cheap... so give it a shot.

The only way I'd not want to do it is if the person doing the prep work prior to plating is an idiot and polishes off half the height of your copper contacts. Can you buy or make replacement contacts if they trash yours?

Did they have samples to show you... or perhaps they have an exchange? That'd be great for them if they did do it on an exchange - to eliminate a long turn-around.

I've been around the plating industry for 40 years, so I have a good idea of "worst case scenario". ;-)

 

[e30ernest]

Thanks! I've only seen pictures so far. They don't do exchanges as far as I know. Turn around is a "day" according to their Facebook page.

I can buy replacement contacts if needed. It'll take a while to get them over here though. Maybe I'll just hold back for now. I only vape 0.9-1.1 ohm coils anyway.

Thanks!

 

[State O' Flux]

Get a extra set of contacts and hand them your old ones over for plating... and maybe suggest an exchange for certain popular, and/or easy to buy replacement contact mods. That'd be the path I'd take at least. ;-)

With 1.0Ω+/- (total resistance) coil(s)... I don't think you're going to see anything earth shattering. If the condition of your copper contacts is good that is. If you look up the comparative conductance of metals on line... you'll have a better idea of what "Innocuous" and I are getting at.

Cheers,
C

 

[Mad Scientist]

At the voltages and frequencies we use for vaping, surface plating would have a negligible effect on the conductivity of solid copper parts as conductors. Where it makes a difference is in the resistance of the contacts only. Tarnished or oxidized metal will have increased contact resistance. As a result, gold plating on the copper is the best bet given the choices. Silver likely is about the same as the bare copper.

At the currents we run, I think any thin plating would be vaporized off the points of contact in no time, but if it's not too expensive, may be worth a try.

 

[State O' Flux]

At the currents we run, I think any thin plating would be vaporized off the points of contact in no time, but if it's not too expensive, may be worth a try.

For the prices the OP quotes in the opening post, I'd do it just for... no particular reason. ;-)