Do you use copper SEC or Aluminum when you do a service change?

[peter d]

Did I mention that the vast majority of services in my area are done with aluminum SEU cable? Yes, I think I did.

 

[finster1]

I think you are right............Nobody else cares wether it is conduit or SE except electricians

 

[peter d]

I think you are right............Nobody else cares wether it is conduit or SE except electricians

That's what I always say. Now, someone will come along and say "The customer will care when you have to replace their service because water leaked in through the cable." That's why I use silicone caulk and NOT duct seal when sealing the top of the meter socket and the hole into the house.

 

[Bjenks]

When you do Al feeders for commercial work, do you also use Al EGC? I see where some engineers will use Al for the conductors and CU for EGC. Not sure if there is an advantage or just that Cu is better and the cost difference for the smaller conductors isnt as big a deal versus the Current Carrying Cond. I either go all Al or all Cu, but was wondering about this other option.

 

[satcom]

Try not to worry about Al or Cu and think about the real problem when you use SE cable, and the head and cable fittings are not sealed to prevent water from entering, over the years the poor work and failure to seal well, has generated a huge amount of repair and replace work for us, and we get a good number of unhappy customers, that had recent services installed, and will never call back the company that did the work.

 

[sameguy]

99.99% of the time that would be alu..

 

[jrannis]

I prefer Aluminum doe to the fact that it doesn't beat the crap out of you all day long.
I have really come to despise copper wire. It makes me ache.

 

[readydave8]

When you do Al feeders for commercial work, do you also use Al EGC? I see where some engineers will use Al for the conductors and CU for EGC. Not sure if there is an advantage or just that Cu is better and the cost difference for the smaller conductors isnt as big a deal versus the Current Carrying Cond. I either go all Al or all Cu, but was wondering about this other option.

I don't like to put copper and aluminum in the same raceway.

 

[LarryFine]

I don't like to put copper and aluminum in the same raceway.

It's okay if you use purple bushings.

 

[flyboy]

The use of duxseal should of been banned years ago.

You could use real duck poop and keep more water from entering the service.

But is does provide us with MANY new service changes

I have been using 100% rubber silicone for many years and never had a call back.

Even Latex caulk is garbage and should never be used.

I had young wet behind the ears inspector tell me I couldn't use rubber silcone because it wasn't approved (didn't have a UL listing).

We use it anyway and then cover it with ductseal.

 

[readydave8]

It's okay if you use purple bushings.

used up all my purple paint retrofitting wire nuts to pigtail al to cu