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Oxidizing copper cable can ruin binding post?

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Headley Grange

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I put in place some unterminated 10 gauge stranded copper cable and quite like what I hear but have some concerns about potential oxidation. For one I don't know over what period of time oxidation takes place. I assume it will be visually notable? If that takes place it won't trouble me to just throw away this very inexpensive cable. More worrisome is the idea that this oxidation may corrode what it is connected to, my binding posts. Could this happen?
Thanks for any info.

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Re: Oxidizing copper cable can ruin binding post? - Logan 02:05:33 01/23/07 (0)
Am I missing something? I just brush nail varnish all over the bare wire/bibding post area twice a year. This seems to keep out the moisture and oxygen required for oxidative corrosion, and is much cheaper than the formulations mentioned. I've never seen anything resembling copper corrosion after this treatment.
Are you talking about oxidation or galvanic corrosion? - Norm 06:22:19 01/22/07 (0)
Copper oxide will begin immediately unless there is some protective layer. It will start on both the terminals and the connected wire but being the same metal, there will be no migration of electrons and breakdown of the metal. It is not a battery. I doubt if the copper wire and the terminal would ever fuse or fall apart, as they would were they iron. Use gold wire and terminals if you want no worries.
High humidity will speed things up...Get some DeoxIT and ProGold - Dynaudio_Rules 14:20:30 01/21/07 (5)
CAIG Labs DeoxIT and ProGold will help slow and repair oxidation.
even if its not bare, you should treat your connections at least 2 times a year.
- Re: High humidity will speed things up...Get some DeoxIT and ProGold - Headley Grange 14:45:25 01/21/07 (0)
  Looking into the products, they seem divided between the 100% solution and 5% solution. What's the difference? Don't say "95%!" :-)
- Re: High humidity will speed things up...Get some DeoxIT and ProGold - Headley Grange 14:44:18 01/21/07 (3)
  Looking into the products, they seem divided between the 100% solution and 5% solution. What's the difference?
  - Whats The Difference - Dynaudio_Rules 14:59:02 01/21/07 (2)
    95%....LOL
    Just kidding, one is for removing oxidation [DeoxIT]the other is for preventing oxidation and helping conductivity [ProGold]
    - Actually... - Cpk 17:46:26 01/21/07 (0)
      They both come in 5% and 100% forms, DeoxIT and Progold. The 5% is just that, a dilute form of the 100% solution and much cheaper
    - Re: Whats The Difference - Headley Grange 15:10:40 01/21/07 (0)
      Ha! I actually tried to go back to my post and get that in there to head off the inevitable but it didn't work! :-)
      OK, I'll get one of each.
      Thanks Dynaudio Rules.
It will be visible way before it causes any damage to binding posts, ... - PureAudio 14:01:02 01/21/07 (1)
... should that ever happen, based on my experiences.
A brushing of ProGold on bare wire terminations has always prevented any oxidation (that I could see) and kept those bare wires bright.
- Re: It will be visible way before it causes any damage to binding posts, ... - Headley Grange 14:19:42 01/21/07 (0)
  Thanks PureAudio, that is reassuring.
  I will definitely get some Progold Deoxit.
  I am still curious though if oxidation were to take place (I'm in a two year coma! :-P ) would or could it spread to the binding posts?

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