Jon Elson wrote:
If it *is* silver, it is a marvelous idea, because sposedly the bulk of the
current density in a conducting wire lies on the surface of the wire.
If it's tin plated, the question is then *why*!
For anti-corrosion properties. Tin and solder don't corrode quickly.
Tin oxide is a pretty good conductor, too, as it is used to make the
see-through wiring on the glass plates of LCD displays. Silver
DOES corrode badly in the ever-present sulfur compounds in our
dirty air. It turns deeply black, which is why if the stuff on your
wires still looks "silver", it isn't Silver.
..

Jon

Or, perhaps, to make it easier to solder. Nothing easier to solder -
and with a greater chance of getting perfect wetting - than pieces
already tinned.

John Martin