SER Copper

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Bama_Electrical

Senior Member
Location
Alabama
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Electrician
I am not able to get any SER Copper lately. Have a couple of customers that want copper instead of aluminum for new service. What are y’all using in it’s place?
 
I think many people don't realize that aluminum of today is perfectly safe as opposed to years ago when there were issues with the aluminum. They changed the characteristics of aluminum so that it doesn't expand and contract as much as it did before. The price of copper is much greater so explain to your customer that aluminum is just fine.
 
Bama_Electrical said:
I am not able to get any SER Copper lately. Have a couple of customers that want copper instead of aluminum for new service. What are y’all using in it’s place?
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In all of my 50 years never came across copper SER cable. About 40 years ago had a guy who wanted copper 100 amp SEU service cable after I gave him the price using aluminum cable. The large supply that I dealt with only stocks it 75 miles away at their shore store. Counterman told me to sit down before he gave me the price. Was a dollar an inch ( $12 a foot ). Think I needed 30' so guy called me a f'ing thieve so I hung up on him. He complained to general contractor about it and after getting other more expensive quotes wanted me to do it but told him I never do work for people who unjustly cures me out. I have aluminum service cable feeding my service and aluminum SER to a garage sub panel. Believe they have only been using the A800 type of aluminum last 40 years without any problems. Customer might have to take out a nice home loan to afford unecessary copper SER cable. Somebody has came out with what I believe they are calling it type CCA wire. It's aluminum wire with 10% of the entire outer layer copper somehow bonded to the aluminum. #12 guage of this only good for 15 Amps. As of right now no easy way to recycle this wire so it brings no recycle money and builders are posting signs on houses under construction saying some thing like house wired with aluminum copier clad wire that recycle centers will not accept.Hopefully they will produce service cables made with CCA for people who insist on copper. Before I retired would only purchase 200' rolls of aluminum SEU #2 ( for 100 amp services for local row houses ) to save money. Couple of times I got a great price if I purchased 1,00 feet of service cable along with two hundred single pole 15 & 20 amp plug in circuit breakers.
 
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