aluminum conductors for residential branch circuits
- Thread starter jackmcg
- Start date
- Status
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
Re: aluminum conductors for residential branch circuits
jack,
As far as I know the NEC has never prohibited the use of aluminum wiring for branch circuits. The type of alloy used for the smaller aluminum conductors was changed about 1973 or 1974. When this new alloy is used with CO/ALR devices, it has no more problems than copper installations.
Don
jack,
As far as I know the NEC has never prohibited the use of aluminum wiring for branch circuits. The type of alloy used for the smaller aluminum conductors was changed about 1973 or 1974. When this new alloy is used with CO/ALR devices, it has no more problems than copper installations.
Don
Re: aluminum conductors for residential branch circuits
The only question I have is why you would want to use al conductors? In our area it is cheaper and more readily available to use copper nm cable. I would be surprised if any of the supply houses here even stock any al nm.
The only question I have is why you would want to use al conductors? In our area it is cheaper and more readily available to use copper nm cable. I would be surprised if any of the supply houses here even stock any al nm.
pierre
Senior Member
- Location
- Westchester County, New York
Re: aluminum conductors for residential branch circuits
310.14 Aluminum Conductor Material. Solid aluminum conductors 8, 10, and 12 AWG shall be made of AA-8000 series electrical grade aluminum alloy conductor material. (this is not the complete section)
310.2(B) Conductor Material. Conductors in this article shall be of aluminum, copper-clad aluminum, or copper unless otherwise specified.
Table 310.16 lists aluminum conductors from 12 awg thru 2000 kcmil. (Qouted from 2002 NEC)
As far as not permitted for branch circuit installations, I believe that is a building code issue.
Pierre
310.14 Aluminum Conductor Material. Solid aluminum conductors 8, 10, and 12 AWG shall be made of AA-8000 series electrical grade aluminum alloy conductor material. (this is not the complete section)
310.2(B) Conductor Material. Conductors in this article shall be of aluminum, copper-clad aluminum, or copper unless otherwise specified.
Table 310.16 lists aluminum conductors from 12 awg thru 2000 kcmil. (Qouted from 2002 NEC)
As far as not permitted for branch circuit installations, I believe that is a building code issue.
Pierre
hurk27
Senior Member
- Location
- Portage, Indiana NEC: 2008
Re: aluminum conductors for residential branch circuits
The problem is getting devices that are listed for al/co copper devices are all I see around here.
The problem is getting devices that are listed for al/co copper devices are all I see around here.
Re: aluminum conductors for residential branch circuits
As with the old style wiring, the problem with using AL conductors is expansion and fatigue. If you nick it, you will break it. It is not illiegal to use it. Remember the old AL had a tendency to break off clean at the receptacle and cause a short. Be gentle with the old stuff.
As with the old style wiring, the problem with using AL conductors is expansion and fatigue. If you nick it, you will break it. It is not illiegal to use it. Remember the old AL had a tendency to break off clean at the receptacle and cause a short. Be gentle with the old stuff.
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
Re: aluminum conductors for residential branch circuits
travis,
Can you document your statement? There is no inherent problem with the use of the currently available aluminum conductors. It does take more care to install, but when done correctly there are few problems with aluminum conductors. In this area, the utility uses only aluminum for all of there distribution and service drops.
Don
travis,
Can you document your statement? There is no inherent problem with the use of the currently available aluminum conductors. It does take more care to install, but when done correctly there are few problems with aluminum conductors. In this area, the utility uses only aluminum for all of there distribution and service drops.
Don
- Location
- Bremerton, Washington
- Occupation
- Master Electrician
Re: aluminum conductors for residential branch circuits
I agree with Don Aluminum is fine for services and feeders. I prefer aluminum to copper. In fact I saw a newsletter from Mike Holt some months ago on aluminum regarding a test and the positive results for aluminum.
In the early 198os aluminum allow was changed to a much better version (A-8000?) and from then on the installion ease of it was much better.
I agree with Don Aluminum is fine for services and feeders. I prefer aluminum to copper. In fact I saw a newsletter from Mike Holt some months ago on aluminum regarding a test and the positive results for aluminum.
In the early 198os aluminum allow was changed to a much better version (A-8000?) and from then on the installion ease of it was much better.
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