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- Jan 31, 2010
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for connectors that face those conditions.
It's for corrosion resistance. Copper is a better conductor than gold; but gold resists tarnishing. Silver is the best conductor of the metals but tarnishes quickly so is a poor choice for connectors. Most connectors are made out of much poorer metal (conductivity-wise) than the (usually) copper wire conducting the current. Plating them with gold resists corrosion and improves their connectivity.
It's for corrosion resistance. Copper is a better conductor than gold; but gold resists tarnishing. Silver is the best conductor of the metals but tarnishes quickly so is a poor choice for connectors. Most connectors are made out of much poorer metal (conductivity-wise) than the (usually) copper wire conducting the current. Plating them with gold resists corrosion and improves their connectivity.