alternate for aluminum feeder

[raberding]

Retail store where we spec'd a copper feeder; asked for an alternate price for aluminum. This is contractor's response:

"The credit for providing ?Three Sets of (3) 400 kcmil + #1/0 ground Aluminum Wire in 3? conduits? in lieu of copper as shown on the plans is <$3,350.00>

Please be aware that aluminum wire burns hotter than copper and typically requires different breakers and equipment to accommodate the differences so the breakers are not tripping all the time due to the added heat. I don?t know for sure how this will affect the gear your vendors provide, but may be worth checking on."

Trying to create a professional reply :?

 

[Shoe]

The copious amounts of BS in his response aside, I tend to respond with factual statements i.e.:

Switchgear provided will be suitable for aluminum terminations with lug capacity capable of accommodating aluminum feeders.

Or something like that...

 

[raberding]

yeah, thanks. I responded similarly and attached a NEMA Whitepaper describing the evolution of Al conductors.