Steve, could you specify the standard length of each cable. I would suggest 6 or 8 feet.
Of course we would want somebody to bring a set of cables that were double the length of another set of cables of the same design.
So I think we need a list of comparisons that we each can volunteer to do.
A group of dimension comparisons
1 - double the length (same everything else)
2 - roughly double the resistance per foot (same everything else)
3 - double strands (similar to #2)
A group of conductor comparisons
3 - copper v aluminum (same gauge, same topology, same covering, same length)
4 - copper v aluminium (same resistance, same topology, same covering, same length)
5 - copper v steel (same gauge, same topology, same covering, same length)
6 - copper v steel (same resistance, same topology, same covering, same length)
7 - copper v silver (same gauge, same topology, same covering, same length) - somebody rich
A group of covering / insulation comparisons (pvc, teflon, cotton, air , some other mystery material)
8 - pvc v teflon
9 - pvc v cotton
10 - teflon v cotton
and so on.
A group of topology comparisons ( conductors parallel, conductors twisted, other)
And of course, the barbed v unbarbed steel wire which I volunteer to bring.
Other ideas will be welcome of course, but if you are planning to turn up, please start nominating the comparison(s) you want to do so we don't have duplication of effort. There are less than two months to go. If you have the time to construct cables for extra comparisons, please do so. I doubt just the few of us can cover all the permutations.
ray