| Tracer wire (also known as locating wire) is being used more frequently by utility companies. Tracer wire is buried alongside when plastic pipe and fiber optic lines are installed underground, to assist in locating them for service and repairs. This practice saves contractors and consumers time, money and inconvenience, but only when the tracer wire maintains its integrity so that a line needing service can be promptly located. Durability is, therefore, a key requirement for tracer wire. Copperhead Industries use of bimetallic copper-clad steel tracer wire is an ideal way of providing this durability.
Copper-clad steel wire consists of a steel core to which an outer layer of copper has been metallurgically bonded. A cutaway view of Copperhead Reinforced Tracer Wire™ is shown below:
The copper outer layer provides the excellent conductivity of copper to carry the locating signal, while the steel core provides the strength required to resist damage during installation and ensure durability in service.
Copperhead Reinforced Tracer Wire™ is not only much stronger than copper as manufactured, it also retains its strength after the type of severe handling involved in underground installation. Impact tests have been conducted on ordinary 12 gauge copper tracer wire and Copperhead Reinforced Tracer Wire™ using a blunt pointed indenter simulating a shovel point.
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An impact of 36 inch-pounds of energy severely damaged the copper wire, but had no measurable effect on the Copperhead Reinforced Tracer Wire™. A blow of 43 inch-pounds was sufficient to completely sever the copper wire, while the Copperhead Reinforced Tracer Wire™ retained 100% of both its strength and its formability.
Resistance to Damage and Deterioration in Service
Copperhead Reinforced Tracer Wire™ has 30 mils of tough high-density polyethylene (HDPE) insulation, which has been shown to be superior to THHN in underground service. Because the thick outer layer is copper, even if the insulation is breached, the product has the corrosion resistance of copper. Because the inner core is a strong ductile steel, Copperhead Reinforced Tracer Wire™ can stretch more than 15% to accommodate ground settling, thermal expansion and other stresses encountered during underground service, without breaking or losing its ability to carry the locating signal.
The initial cost of Copperhead Reinforced Tracer Wire™ is comparable to conventional copper tracer wire. Because of fewer breaks during installation and better durability during service, both the total installed costs, and the life-of-project costs are lower.
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| Copperhead Reinforced Tracer Wire™ is ideal for tracer wire applications as a substitute for solid copper. Copperhead Reinforced Tracer Wire™ possesses superior breaking load and increased strength due to the steel core, yet maintains high flexibility due to precise heat-treatment practices. The copper cladding allows the wire to possess the same signal carrying capacity as solid copper. This ultimately reduces cost when drilling, boring and open trenching and is more economical over the life of the wire. Copperhead Reinforced Tracer Wire™ is insulated with 30mil High Density Polyethylene (HDPE). |
Copperhead Reinforced Tracer Wire™ combines the strength of steel with the conductivity and corrosion resistance of copper. Copperhead Reinforced Tracer Wire™ is a composite in which a concentric copper cladding is metallurgically bonded to a steel core through a continuous, solid-cladding process using pressure rolling for primary bonding. The copper cladding thickness remains constant surrounding the steel yielding a composite conductivity of 21% IACS (International Annealed Copper Standard). Standard packages include 500’, 1000’, and 2500’ spools. |
