What kind of wire is this?

[baronvonellis]

What kind of wire is this? One strand is copper and the other is silver color. I guess aluminum? I got it at home depot since it's supposed to be somewhat flat wire to run underneath a carpet. I need 1 wire to run underneath a carpet from the front of the room to the back, and I live in an apartment so I can't run wires through the wall. And I didn't want it too round to create a bump under my area rug, then part of it goes across my wood floor where I walk so I don't want to trip over a big wire. Should I toss it though, if it is aluminum? Can someone recommend a better wire I could get that can be run under a carpet and is somewhat flat?

 

[TLS Guy]

No, both are copper. One side has a coating so you can keep track of polarity.

 

[lovinthehd]

Just one wire tinned so you can tell them apart so you can hook your speakers up in phase. Sometimes there's a physical difference in the casing (a ridge vs smooth) to help out, too. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[baronvonellis]

I see. Yea, I like that it's easy to tell the wires apart. Glad it's still copper. I guess I will keep it then.