Aluminum Wire

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RandytheMaster

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Winter Garden, FL
I'm updating an old condo with partial aluminum wiring. I'm using AL-CU devices and AL-CU connectors. My question is : is there a code that specificly states that this is a NEC accepted upgrade or just normal practice? I have not found a code refering to this. I have spoke with the senior Inspector in the area and he has passed all of our installations. Help?
 
110.14(A) and (B).

110.14(A) requires that a terminal must be listed for use with aluminum wire if you are going to terminate aluminum wire on it.

110.14(B) requires that splicing devices be identified for the use. So if I am splicing aluminum the splicing device must be identifed for use with aluminum.

Chris
 
al-cu

al-cu

It's been a few years since I have been involved in a similar problem and products may have changed, but at that time you had a very limited availability of connectors which were rated for Cu-Al mix. AMP made one that use a machine to crimp (certificate of training involved) and of courese, Ideal has their blue al-cu wirenut. I can't recall if there is a device available for direct connection of AL but I;'m sure someone here can inform us of that.
An associated problem in using a connector was that box fill became a problem on some of the jobs I saw and a wiremold extension box was required.
It's a stickey situation wrought with installation and liability problems.
 
480sparky said:
Nya Nya Nya Nya Nya, Nya! I finally beat Chris on one! I'll mark today down on my calendar!
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Knowing the both of you, this time I agree with.........................Chris!:grin:

Still love you Ken!:grin:
 
Thank you

Thank you

Thank you one and all. I scanned right over 110.14 because it didn't mention Aluminum wire specifically. I have a compression connector but box fill can be an issue. Occassionnally I need to enlarge to a 2 gang because of the way it was wired 40 years ago.
 
Lou,
CU/AL is the old out of date listing that can no longer be used on aluminum wire. It must now be listed CO/ALR to be used.
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I believe that the CO/ALR listing only applies to wiring devices and not wire connectors. Also, I don't know if it makes any difference, but the CO/ALR devices were designed for use with the newer aluminum alloy that was used for aluminum wire starting about 1973 or 74. This new alloy does not have the poor track record that the older aluminum wire has.
Don
 
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