Al or Cu preference for garage welder and compressor circuits?

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WadeC

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Electrician
Anyone have any reasons not to use Aluminum wire for residential garage welder and compressor circuits?
 
WadeC said:
Anyone have any reasons not to use Aluminum wire for residential garage welder and compressor circuits?
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Long run, may be well worth it.

Compressor - presuming you are talking something that needs more than a 30 amp circuit. A lot of what goes into residential garage is no more than 20 amp. Until you get into some guy with serious air needs and he is maybe pushing the limit to what is allowed in some residential locations for regular activity.
 
WadeC said:
Anyone have any reasons not to use Aluminum wire for residential garage welder and compressor circuits?
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Aluminum will probably not be available in smaller sizes you are likely to see in most residential garages but if it is, I see no reason not to use it.
 
kwired said:
Long run, may be well worth it.

Compressor - presuming you are talking something that needs more than a 30 amp circuit. A lot of what goes into residential garage is no more than 20 amp. Until you get into some guy with serious air needs and he is maybe pushing the limit to what is allowed in some residential locations for regular activity.
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Thank you I appreciate it.
LarryFine said:
What sized circuits?
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35 & 50
 
I generally don't use aluminum conductors smaller than 4 AWG. Might not really save much over copper if that is the size you run for say a 30 amp circuit - unless long length and voltage drop is a factor in conductor selection.

SE cable is about the only aluminum cable I have used, and that usually has always been 2 AWG or larger.
 
kwired said:
I generally don't use aluminum conductors smaller than 4 AWG. Might not really save much over copper if that is the size you run for say a 30 amp circuit - unless long length and voltage drop is a factor in conductor selection.

SE cable is about the only aluminum cable I have used, and that usually has always been 2 AWG or larger.
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IDR if I've ever used SE cable.
 
ptonsparky said:
IDR if I've ever used SE cable.
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When still allowed to run 3 wire to ranges we almost always ran #6 copper SE cable to ranges.

I haven't used much since then but occasionally have for a feeder in a dwelling. Got one right now under construction that will have a feeder run about 80 feet from service location. Will be too many bends to run raceway and will be entirely enclosed so no easy access for pull boxes or conduit bodies either.
 
kwired said:
I generally don't use aluminum conductors smaller than 4 AWG. Might not really save much over copper if that is the size you run for say a 30 amp circuit - unless long length and voltage drop is a factor in conductor selection.

SE cable is about the only aluminum cable I have used, and that usually has always been 2 AWG or larger.
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We don't as a rule but we have some aluminium conductors. One was 40V, 40000A anodisors.
 
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