Question for you "old" guys...

[NolaTigaBait]

ive noticed on several houses that ive done service calls to that aluminum feeders were used to feed a subpanel...the last one that i went to they used a #4 aluminum w ground feeder to feed a subpanel, it ws protected by a 100 amp breaker...the breakers look original and obviously so is the wire...my question is, back in the 60's and 70's, was aluminum wiring considered equivelent to copper?....b/c if not, i can't see how this passed initial inspection

 

[ohm]

ive noticed on several houses that ive done service calls to that aluminum feeders were used to feed a subpanel...the last one that i went to they used a #4 aluminum w ground feeder to feed a subpanel, it ws protected by a 100 amp breaker...the breakers look original and obviously so is the wire...my question is, back in the 60's and 70's, was aluminum wiring considered equivelent to copper?....b/c if not, i can't see how this passed initial inspection

I'm not real old but even my first code book (58) didn't allow that.

 

[480sparky]

I'm not real old but even my first code book (58) didn't allow that.

'56 is the first year aluminum conductors were specifically 'tabled' (Table 1a, Chapter 10) for ampacity. Prior to that, the rule was aluminum had 84% of the capacity of a copper conductor of the same size.

 

[ohm]

'56 is the first year aluminum conductors were specifically 'tabled' (Table 1a, Chapter 10) for ampacity. Prior to that, the rule was aluminum had 84% of the capacity of a copper conductor of the same size.

Well 480 you get he prize for travelling the furthest to this reunion!

 

[480sparky]

Well 480 you get he prize for travelling the furthest to this reunion!

What reunion? Didn't know I was invited......

 

[resistance]

I knew 480 had the history.............:wink:

 

[480sparky]

I knew 480 had the history.............:wink:

'Cause I lived it.

When God created dirt, I wired the factory He made it in. Soon after, He said, "Let there be light!".:wink:

 

[tryinghard]

...my question is, back in the 60's and 70's, was aluminum wiring considered equivelent to copper?....b/c if not, i can't see how this passed initial inspection

Here in the ?otts? aluminum used correctly is just fine compared to copper. It?s usually a price issue but sometimes a preference.

 

[Mule]

my question is, back in the 60's and 70's, was aluminum wiring considered equivelent to copper?....b/c if not, i can't see how this passed initial inspection

In our town in the 60's and 70's, alot of things were passed if you offered a 1/5 of whiskey for a permit fee....

 

[480sparky]

In our town in the 60's and 70's, alot of things were passed if you offered a 1/5 of whiskey for a permit fee....

Then again, how much work that was done back in the 60s and 70s were even required to be inspected? Maybe back then, they just trusted the workers to do it right and had no permit/license/inspection program in place.

 

[resistance]

'Cause I lived it.

When God created dirt, I wired the factory He made it in. Soon after, He said, "Let there be light!".:wink:

I hear ya!

 

[jrannis]

Most likey a 60 amp breaker was there and swapped out for a 100amp

 

[Dennis Alwon]

ive noticed on several houses that ive done service calls to that aluminum feeders were used to feed a subpanel...the last one that i went to they used a #4 aluminum w ground feeder to feed a subpanel, it ws protected by a 100 amp breaker...the breakers look original and obviously so is the wire...my question is, back in the 60's and 70's, was aluminum wiring considered equivelent to copper?....b/c if not, i can't see how this passed initial inspection

Many things passed inspection that shouldn't have. When I first moved to NC the county adjacent to us didin't even have an inspection department. EC did what they wanted. Some inspectors where I lived wouldn't even come up the driveway to inspect the house- they would sign off at the box at the bottom of the drive. Sad but true.

 

[iwire]

ive noticed on several houses that ive done service calls to that aluminum feeders were used to feed a subpanel...the last one that i went to they used a #4 aluminum w ground feeder to feed a subpanel, it ws protected by a 100 amp breaker...the breakers look original and obviously so is the wire...my question is, back in the 60's and 70's, was aluminum wiring considered equivelent to copper?....b/c if not, i can't see how this passed initial inspection

Are you sure it is AL and not tin plated copper?

 

[infinity]

Are you sure it is AL and not tin plated copper?

That would have been my guess especially if it was from the 60's or early 70's.

 

[qcroanoke]

'Cause I lived it.

When God created dirt, I wired the factory He made it in. Soon after, He said, "Let there be light!".:wink:

Well, I wasn't around for that.
But I did wire Noah's Ark.......

 

[480sparky]

Well, I wasn't around for that.
But I did wire Noah's Ark.......

Rookie!











BTW, did you have bubble covers then?

 

[SEO]

Are you sure it is AL and not tin plated copper?

I agree with Bob just by looking at the conductor the tin plated copper conductors are hard to tell apart from al. It's sad to say but some inspectors are lazy and do not do a thorough job. It's a lot easier to pass a job than to write a violation. But they have to live with themselves and the consequences.

 

[NolaTigaBait]

not sure if its tinned or not...ill be sure to check it next time i go...tinned copper has the same ampacity of copper?

 

[infinity]

not sure if its tinned or not...ill be sure to check it next time i go...tinned copper has the same ampacity of copper?

It would be based on the insulation type (usually rubber based) and the fact that it is actually copper.