Aluminum Terminations on AC equipment

[Greg1707]

I received a call from a customer. The AC people replaced the air handler but did not connect the power because the cable was aluminum. Is it likely the terminations were only rated for copper?

 

[LarryFine]

It's only speculation without asking.

 

[Eddie702]

Pigtails

 

[Jraef]

I received a call from a customer. The AC people replaced the air handler but did not connect the power because the cable was aluminum. Is it likely the terminations were only rated for copper?

Doubtful. Most of them are aluminum box lugs that are Cu/Al.

 

[ModbusMan]

It's only speculation without asking.

Yep, gotta ask. Could just as easily be something like the tech not feeling "right" and calling a stop before getting himself into something dangerous.

 

[retirede]

Yep, gotta ask. Could just as easily be something like the tech not feeling "right" and calling a stop before getting himself into something dangerous.

I prefer that to wrecklessly proceeding if they’re unsure.

 

[Jraef]

I prefer that to wrecklessly proceeding if they’re unsure.

“Recklessly proceeding”…lol
My brother and I started a business together decades ago by “stealing” a customer away from our father’s business, which our dad vehemently tried to discourage us from (it’s complicated) using that exact term. When we succeeded and grew the business to where we wanted a logo, we made a heraldic-like shield with a Latin motto on a banner, saying “procedere temere”, which means recklessly proceeding! (We were both forced to learn Latin as kids, a totally useless skill…)

 

[augie47]

It's not unusual in this area to find HVAC equipment marked "Cu terminations only"

 

[curt swartz]

It's not unusual in this area to find HVAC equipment marked "Cu terminations only"

Small equipment (30 amps or less) usually has lugs designed for copper only. Past 30 amps the lugs are usually aluminum but as you say many times there is a sticker stating CU wire only. Even though the lugs are rated to AL the equipment manufactures probably doesn't have have the equipment tested for AL wire.

 

[jaggedben]

...(We were both forced to learn Latin as kids, a totally useless skill…)

Seems like you finally found a use for it.