SEU

[Jimmy7]

I haven't done a 200 amp service change in a while in a single family home, so I was surprised at the material cost. I usually try to use 2/0 copper SEU (Between the meter socket and the panel), but in this case I might use 4/0 aluminum SEU. I got the following quotes: 2/0 SEU Copper $26 per ft., and 4/0 Aluminum SEU $5.43 per ft.

Do you prefer copper, or do you see any issue with using 4/0 aluminum for a 200 Amp service? I just have hard time paying that much for copper

 

[Dennis Alwon]

The new aluminum is just fine. In fact, there is no need for the antioxidant anymore.

Materials have gone thru the roof everywhere. A friend just bought a twin QO breaker- 2 SP together- and it got a deal at $46.00 . Prices varied from $28 at Lowes-of course they didn't have any- to $150.

 

[electrofelon]

I don't recall EVER using copper for a residential service.

 

[acrwc10]

In 40 years I have never seen aluminum fail where copper would not have also failed, installed correctly it is fine. More profit is the goal. If you spend less and provide the same quality you can charge less and make more.

 

[James L]

I don't recall EVER using copper for a residential service.

We have a municipality here...Leawood, Kansas...
Used to require all copper everywhere, no aluminum of any kind. So we ran copper SEU and copper water ground.

A couple of years ago I wired a kitchen and upgraded the service on a house there, and they had dropped that silly amendment

 

[goldstar]

The new aluminum is just fine. In fact, there is no need for the antioxidant anymore.

Materials have gone thru the roof everywhere. A friend just bought a twin QO breaker- 2 SP together- and it got a deal at $46.00 . Prices varied from $28 at Lowes-of course they didn't have any- to $150.

Just curious, why don't you need anti-oxident anymore ?

 

[Dennis Alwon]

Just curious, why don't you need anti-oxident anymore ?

The aluminum used years ago was a different alloy or compound than the new aluminum that doesn't expand and contract like the old material did. It is still recommended by Southwire but they also recommend it for copper. It just isn't required....we still use it.

 

[garbo]

I haven't done a 200 amp service change in a while in a single family home, so I was surprised at the material cost. I usually try to use 2/0 copper SEU (Between the meter socket and the panel), but in this case I might use 4/0 aluminum SEU. I got the following quotes: 2/0 SEU Copper $26 per ft., and 4/0 Aluminum SEU $5.43 per ft.

Do you prefer copper, or do you see any issue with using 4/0 aluminum for a 200 Amp service? I just have hard time paying that much for copper

I am retired but started using aluminum SEU cable helping my dad in the early 1960's with no problems. Always had a dedicated clean wire brush to clean conductors then applied nonox or other paste. Even removed the screws in 100 amp main breakers and applied a very thin film on threads because I came across too many sieseed up main breaker screws over the years. Keep the wire brush in a freezer bag to keep it clean. A smart Vo Tech teacher told us that because all ultility companies use nothing but aluminum conductors in damp outdoors you have less trouble with aluminum to aluminum splices. Back in the 1980's had a customer insisted that I use copper 100 amp SEU cable after I gave him a quote using aluminum. The supply house that had 10 or 11 branches only stocked copper SEU 65 miles away at their shore store. Counter man told me to sit down before he gave me the price . Was a dollar an inch. So I called the guy back and told him that it would be $300 more. Called me a f' ING crook so I hung up on him. He must have got other prices because he was ok with the extra $300. Told him no thanks due to undue cursing me out. I used aluminum SEU in my house & parents house. Whenever you splice aluminum to copper if using common bugs make sure that you they have a separator plate so aluminum does not touch the copper. Think the same Vo Tech teacher told us 50 plus years ago when splicing aluminum to copper wires outdoors to have the aluminum is on top. Copper oxide that forms on copper conducts electricity but aluminum oxide is a poor conductor or so I was told back in the good old days.