Cu/AL connections

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OK Sparky 93

Senior Member
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Electrician
I hope there have been a lot of techs see a lot of things.

I was wandering what makes the ideal #65 wirenut unique. All I can come up with is that it contains a no-ox compound. And the fact that it is UL listed.

As far as expansion and contraction rates are concerned when joining to different conductors together, I do not see the. O-ox compound making a huge difference.

I have seen all conductors of the same type be in a wirenut and have heating problems.

Loose connections! If the wires were twisted before the wirenut this most likely would not be an issue.

Is that wrong?

How much amperage for how long of time would one expect that joining a Cu and an AL conductor together whether a no-ox compound was used or not?

Some EC’s I have asked say they would just pigtail, use no-ox and use a basic 3m wirenut.

This is in reference to residential branch circuit AL wiring.
 
OK Sparky 93 said:
Some EC’s I have asked say they would just pigtail, use no-ox and use a basic 3m wirenut.
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40 years ago that was the standard method because readily available listed products didn't exist. I'm not sure that make these Ideal wirenuts so special but the fact that they've been listed for splicing two different materials together make me think that there is a reason beyond some anti-ox paste.
 
infinity said:
40 years ago that was the standard method because readily available listed products didn't exist. I'm not sure that make these Ideal wirenuts so special but the fact that they've been listed for splicing two different materials together make me think that there is a reason beyond some anti-ox paste.
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Even if this is true, I have seen images of these melted.

From what?

Because the are not adequate for the job, or a more thorough connection of the conductors, such as twisting?

I know I have read info on a jug of wirenuts that twisting was not required.

With the exception sometimes of the EGC, everything at least #10 and smaller gets twisted.
 
The purple wirenuts aren't even for permanent connections. It says so on the package. You need Alumincons or Mac connectors. Or you can get the fancy crimps that no one can get.

It doesn't matter if it would be fine at this point unless you can show the customer it's 100% acceptable they won't be happy with either the connection or the price to rerun the circuit in copper.
 
letgomywago said:
The purple wirenuts aren't even for permanent connections. It says so on the package. You need Alumincons or Mac connectors. Or you can get the fancy crimps that no one can get.

It doesn't matter if it would be fine at this point unless you can show the customer it's 100% acceptable they won't be happy with either the connection or the price to rerun the circuit in copper.
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Where did you get that info? Its not on any package I have seen or in the specs from Ideal.

Never head of a Mac connector for AL wire.
 
OK Sparky 93 said:
Even if this is true, I have seen images of these melted.

From what?

Because the are not adequate for the job, or a more thorough connection of the conductors, such as twisting?

I know I have read info on a jug of wirenuts that twisting was not required.

With the exception sometimes of the EGC, everything at least #10 and smaller gets twisted.
Click to expand...
and I have seen images of every other type of wirenut melted and also of most every type of connection that you can think of.
 
when dealing with this, is the right thing to do a rewire?

Is the use of the alumicon connector the right, cheapest option?

Or a rewire?

Never used them. In older homes that would have AL wire, most likely have smaller boxes.

Would / do they take up to much room?

While maybe not for a standard switch or receptacle, what about when you try to cram a dimmer or gfci in?
 
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