Use of Aluminum Conductors

don_resqcapt19 said:
In things like this where the only real difference is cost, not safety or effectiveness, I fail to understand why designers or installers do not want to follow the wishes of their customer. Once you have suggested a lower cost option, and they say no, just move on with the higher cost option.
It is not up to the designer or to installer...the only one that has any say is the customer.
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Only time when I wouldn't agree to this is when the specs that aren't necessarily warranted cause extra delays. This project hasn't started if in the engineering phase still so not a factor here but if someone tells me they want a product that takes 3 years to get but we're at completion of the project then this needs to be billed and payed before a 3 year lead time kicks in.
 
I have had to deal with Gov specs that made little sense but some things don't change. I think it that these specs are made at a
different level than the enforcement. I have had solder specs for boiler fittings that were designed for drinking water. Mucho research
to find one that was excepted.
 
My understanding is that the newer aluminum alloys have better compatibility with terminations in terms of thermal expansion effects.

Aluminum will be poorer than copper in any situation where corrosion is an issue. I would note that in _most_ cases, this is _not_ an issue.

About the only situation where aluminum is poorer than copper is in an underground installation where there has been an insulation failure, and I have no direct experience with this; only reading about the issue here. I personally would not use direct bury underground aluminum, but would have no problem with properly installed aluminum in most other situations.

-Jonathan
 
How much of that corision is just on the surface and has no bearing on the direct connection.
I rember reading the aluminum oxidation is extremely brittle compared to copper oxidation
 
AC\DC said:
I rember reading the aluminum oxidation is extremely brittle compared to copper oxidation
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ramsy said:
Did you read that watching YouTube?
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I have heard the same thing from multiple sources and am pretty sure it's true. Many say wire brushing is important, but since the oxidation layer is very brittle, it is easily broken up when tightening the lug so is not really necessary.
 
I live in a city where aluminum is sometimes used in distribution I personally never seen any issues.


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A tad off subject. A guy close to where I live bought a house for $1 because it had asbestos siding and aluminum wiring. Too expensive to fix.
He had it moved it to a new property. No idea what it might have cost to fix along with the move, new septic, well. Never permitted.
Sometimes a good deal, ain't.
 
Someone please remind me: What is the name of the material ("coating"?) that had to be placed on AL conductors before inserting the conductor into its lug and tightening it down? I think it was some type of protection against corrosion due to oxidation.

Also, when did it become no longer needed (i.e., due to better AL alloys)?
 
charlie b said:
What is the name of the material ("coating"?) that had to be placed on AL conductors before inserting the conductor into its lug and tightening it down?
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Antioxidant compound, Noalox is one brand.

It's needed when manufacturers say it is.

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One more question: In the era that required the use of the antioxidant, were there additional maintenance costs (e.g., periodic retightening of lugs, periodic reapplication of the antioxidant, something else)?
 
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