"TokaMundo" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 02 Aug 2005 10:54:26 -0700, John Larkin
Gave us:

Before any difference could even be noted, the wired diameter would
have to be over 16 mm.

Not so. At 0.85 cm depth, current density is down to 1/e (ie, only
0.37 of) the surface density. That's pretty significant.


0.85cm is 8.5 mm. That means that the wire has to be bigger than
that number as a radius before the current flow anywhere else besides
the entire wire.

Wrong again. You seem to think that the current is uniform
down to the "skin depth," and THEN it somehow starts to
fall off. As John already pointed out, with seemingly unwarranted
patience, that ain't so.

Once again: "do the math." And this time, go beyond just using
the skin-depth calculator on your favorite web site, and actually
figure out what the EFFECTS would be (in terms of resistive
loss, heating, whatever) of the skin depth at 60 Hz in a conductor
otherwise seemingly-properly-sized for the 800A service that
John mentioned as an example.

You might be surprised by the result.

Bob M.