Aluminum Wiring
- Thread starter longrider
- Start date
- Status
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
We did a few apartment buildings in the mid 70's where we used the new aluminum alloy and all CO/ALR devices. We had no more problems with those buildings then we had with buildings wired with copper.
Don
Brian,
The article that you referenced seems to just talk about the 1350 AL (which I believe is used by utilities) and not the 8000 series AL (which is building wiring) that the NEC recognizes as an approved building wire.
I believe the 1350 is what was used in the 60's & 70's and what caused the issues due to Terminations improperly made which had a greater tendancy to creep.
I know someone will correct me if I am wrong about this.
-Ed
The article that you referenced seems to just talk about the 1350 AL (which I believe is used by utilities) and not the 8000 series AL (which is building wiring) that the NEC recognizes as an approved building wire.
I believe the 1350 is what was used in the 60's & 70's and what caused the issues due to Terminations improperly made which had a greater tendancy to creep.
I know someone will correct me if I am wrong about this.
-Ed
don_resqcapt19 said:
Hi Don,
I would still not make an exception to wiring residential with small conductor Al, even with using A8300 alloys and a contractor who has a great crew and pays attention to product quality with good application techniques. Reason is that the competitive market will win out in labor time costs and finding cheap Al romex just doesn't happen.
Sorry, but I have serviced and inspected enough dwellings that fail over the years due to Al creep and methods of assembly. Using larger AWG for service/feeder range, furnace and heat pump hookups is still in order I agree. Sounds like you had a super crew then. rbj
stickboy1375
Senior Member
- Location
- Litchfield, CT
Most professionals working in the electrical industry are aware that electrical connections, whether copper or aluminum, can overheat if not properly terminated. The IEEE Gold Book on electrical reliability gives statistics on electrical failures. It shows that faulty connections are the leading cause of failures, regardless of conductor material.
stickboy1375 said:
I agree. The industry is not going to be able to idiot proof everything no matter how hard they try regardless of what the Gold Book says. Improving on material products is one answer, the other is enforcing applications of assembly and that is where the NEC can improve safety and won't.
stickboy1375
Senior Member
- Location
- Litchfield, CT
gndrod said:
IMO, you cannot idiot proof an electrical install... Humans make mistakes no matter how you look at it...
peter d
Senior Member
- Location
- New England
Here is a good history for aluminum wire.
http://www.southwire.com/welcome.jsp
I suppose it's probably just a sales pitch for Southwire. But they are more or less competing against themselves because they make both copper and aluminum wire and cable.
Regardless, I do think the industry is filled with more misinformation and hype that facts about AL wire.
http://www.southwire.com/welcome.jsp
I suppose it's probably just a sales pitch for Southwire. But they are more or less competing against themselves because they make both copper and aluminum wire and cable.
Regardless, I do think the industry is filled with more misinformation and hype that facts about AL wire.
peter d said:
Thanks peter,
Another good article from the Aluminum industry,,,but the brown snow is still evident. Texas Instruments developed a Cu clad Al in the 60's and failed to get market acceptablity. The reason, Aluminum does not have the same malability as copper along with temperature cycling integrity and creep due to cross-section expandability, it fails miserably in small solid conductor applications. Do not buy the platitudes of manufacturers about pound for pound, aluminum carries just as many amps as copper.
The aircraft industry tried aluminum for the same reason and rejected the many flaws Al has under vibration stress also. I would not take a trip on an Al wired jetliner. Government requires Spec 44 and 88 wiring using copper alloyed with high strength steel and pays through the nose for reliablility of having safe aircraft.
Until the aluminum industry can produce aluminum and the connecting terminations in the commercial industry for reliable small AWG conductors, is the day it will be accepted. Try realizing what other manufacturers are thinking when it comes time to interface with Al wiring. I would bet that Wago's will melt unless there is a more expensive version for the market. This whole economics of private agenda is driving the cost of installation upward. I hope the guys like Southwire read this. They may get the drift. rbj
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