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ELECTRICAL QUESTION Dave Hembree 11-29-2006
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Posted by Bill on November 30, 2006, 12:25 pm
It is common to use aluminum wiring for the main feed. If it is installed
properly, anti-oxidation goop applied to connections, and connections
torqued per panel manufacturer's specifications, it should be fine.

These connections are usually done "right" since they are so important.

It is numerous house switch/outlet aluminum wiring connections done wrong
and in a hurry which have problems in future years.

I have aluminum main wiring going to a subpanel I have, but everything else
is copper.

"Dave Hembree" wrote in message
> We are adding a large addition (2200 sq ft) to our existing 2400 sq ft
> home. I will be adding a 200 AMP panel in the new addition that feeds
> from the exisitng panel (will likely need to upgrade main service too). My
> question is the best way to connect the new panel to the old panel. The
> run will be around 100 feet and likely need to be a pretty large cable.
> With copper prices through the roof - one electrician has recommened using
> aluminum for the 100 ft run (we will use copper 12/2 for all runs from the
> new panel of course). I remember hearing that aluminum wiring is bad - is
> aluminum wiring just a bad idea for the circuits - but OK for the long run
> from panel to panel.
>
> Or should I just suck it up and use copper for the 100 ft run??



Posted by Steve Barker LT on November 30, 2006, 7:49 pm
It has something to do with COST. and the fact that al will liberate heat in
free air much better.

--
Steve Barker

> Aluminum wire is popular for overhead service entrance
> connection. Must have something to do with the ampacity
> to weight ratio or sumpthin.
>
> dawg
>
>
> : It is common to use aluminum wiring for the main
> feed. If it is installed
> : properly, anti-oxidation goop applied to connections,
> and connections
> : torqued per panel manufacturer's specifications, it
> should be fine.
> :
> : These connections are usually done "right" since they
> are so important.
> :
> : It is numerous house switch/outlet aluminum wiring
> connections done wrong
> : and in a hurry which have problems in future years.
> :
> : I have aluminum main wiring going to a subpanel I
> have, but everything else
> : is copper.
>
>



Posted by Dave Hembree on November 30, 2006, 8:21 pm
Thanks for all the answers - one question since the last 2 posts have
mentioned using Aluminum for overhead wire service - my aluminum wire
will be in a cramped attic, inside a 6" PVC pipe I installed under about
15" of loose fill insulation. I will also have coax, telephone, and
CAT6E wiring in that 6" tube. Will this cause any problems with heat,
interference with other cables, etc?? I don't know how hot that
aluminum wire will get - and I am hoping that 6" PVC is only about half
full of wires when I get done (electric, coax, cable, CAT6E?!

Posted by Matt Whiting on November 30, 2006, 8:55 pm
Dave Hembree wrote:

> Thanks for all the answers - one question since the last 2 posts have
> mentioned using Aluminum for overhead wire service - my aluminum wire
> will be in a cramped attic, inside a 6" PVC pipe I installed under about
> 15" of loose fill insulation. I will also have coax, telephone, and
> CAT6E wiring in that 6" tube. Will this cause any problems with heat,
> interference with other cables, etc?? I don't know how hot that
> aluminum wire will get - and I am hoping that 6" PVC is only about half
> full of wires when I get done (electric, coax, cable, CAT6E?!

I don't have a copy handy here at home, but I'm about 99% sure that the
NEC does not allow high voltage and low voltage wires to be in the same
conduit. This could cause a very dangerous situation if a rodent gets
in there and chews the insulation such that a low voltage wire gets in
contact with a hot supply line.


Matt

Posted by Steve Barker LT on November 30, 2006, 11:37 pm
You definitely do not want your data and phone lines running parallel with
high current. You'll get interference at best and at worse, you may get
some induced current. Run a separate metallic (grounded) tube for the data
if it has to run close to this feeder.

--
Steve Barker



> Thanks for all the answers - one question since the last 2 posts have
> mentioned using Aluminum for overhead wire service - my aluminum wire will
> be in a cramped attic, inside a 6" PVC pipe I installed under about 15" of
> loose fill insulation. I will also have coax, telephone, and CAT6E wiring
> in that 6" tube. Will this cause any problems with heat, interference
> with other cables, etc?? I don't know how hot that aluminum wire will
> get - and I am hoping that 6" PVC is only about half full of wires when I
> get done (electric, coax, cable, CAT6E?!



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