Aluminum cable for power service entrance

Status
Not open for further replies.
B

billcoufal

New member
I am about to purchase an 8 year old home and it has aluminum power entrance cable, providing 200 amps to the home. I wonder if aluminum cable is ok to use. I don't have the NEC book to verify it. I had assumed that only copper cable would be used, but maybe for entrance service, AL is ok. What do you think?
 
Re: Aluminum cable for power service entrance

There are millions of homes with AL service cable. (Type SE). I install them on a regular basis. You may also see it on 240Volt lines such as AC or Range with no problems. Copper is better though.
 
Re: Aluminum cable for power service entrance

In the larger sizes, aluminum is okay, as long as it's installed properly, which a proper inspection assures.
 
Re: Aluminum cable for power service entrance

Hi Bill: The important thing to remember about aluminum wiring is that it terminates in the proper terminations that are designed to accept aluminum wire. There were problems with Al wire in the 70's when there was a shortage of copper. The electrical construction industry was not familiar with the use of Al wire and electricians were installing Al wire into terminations on devices and circuit breakers that were designed to accept only Cu wire.
 
Re: Aluminum cable for power service entrance

John this house is only 8 years old. Bill , there is no reason that aluminum service conductors would be any more of a problem than copper.
 
Re: Aluminum cable for power service entrance

I have always been told AL will expand and contract more than CU creating a greater possibility of failure. I have personally seen numerous connections in meters and panels were the AL connection was bad (heat discoloration etc. and yes I checked breaker size and lug rating)). Now you could argue it was not properly torqued on the original install. (and I would probably agree)....That being said I really dont know why its better I guess I should not have said it cause I really dont have any concrete evidence. Its one of those things you have heard a million times and repeated a million times so it must be right..Right?
 
Re: Aluminum cable for power service entrance

Plus, Copper has to be better 'cause its more money. :D :D :roll:
 
Re: Aluminum cable for power service entrance

aluminum + florida = no
and on that note i have yet to see a meter can lugs burnt to hell with copper. wait i take that back, only when critters are put into the mix!

back in pennsylvania we used SE by the mile and i saw some pretty nasty looking cans. i think i can safely attribute that to installers being to cheap to buy a torque wrench and read that little label on the side of the can with the recommended torque numbers.

my opinion, safe if installed correctly
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top