Aluminum Rigid

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Gregg Harris said:
Protect from what?
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Put No-Ox on them so they will form a good bond when used as EGC?
Put plastic caps on the ends until you actually screw them together to prevent impact damage to the threads?

Depends on how they are going to be handled between thread cutting and assembly in terms of impact damage.
The fresh cut aluminum surface will start to have a protective oxide layer within minutes if you did not use cutting oil, but the mechanical forces of assembly will break through that layer.
 
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I think that he's asking if there is a requirement similar to 300.6(A) for ferrous raceways.
 
Field cut threads on aluminum rigid are not the same as field cut threads on galvanized steel rigid. On the latter, the galvanizing is removed and exposes the steel to environmental-caused corrosion. With aluminum, if the threads are subjected to corrosive influences, the entire conduit is also... so you would have to protect the entire conduit. See 300.6 general statement and subsection (B) thereunder.
 
Even though there isn't a requirement for any protectant on the threads, I always use NoLox on all aluminum rigid conduits.
It helps with lube in the couplings. Aluminum likes to cross thread and gaul very easily, and the NoLox lubes the threads very well. Using it is we'll worth it.
 
Nom Deplume said:
Even though there isn't a requirement for any protectant on the threads, I always use NoLox on all aluminum rigid conduits.
It helps with lube in the couplings. Aluminum likes to cross thread and gaul very easily, and the NoLox lubes the threads very well. Using it is we'll worth it.
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Are you actually talking about Noalox (NoAluminumOxide)? That is not intended as an anti-seize lubricant although it may serve that purpose.
It is great for aluminum connections that you want to provide better conductivity for and may be required for use with some types of connectors or terminations. But if you are not worried about resistance and really need seize protection there may be better products out there.
If you only want to carry one thing for both purposes, Noalox may be good enough for anti-seize, but that is not in the product description AFAIK.
Some of the anti-seize products are also touted for inhibiting corrosion and reducing surface resistance, so that goes both ways.
Based on reports I have seen from practicing sparkies, nothing beats Noalox when you actually need an anti-oxidant.
 
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