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Posted by Bud-- on February 2, 2007, 1:02 pm
RayV wrote:
> wrote:
>
>>My wife and I are remodeling a bedroom . Our home was built in 1974.
>>At the time the electrical code allowed for use of aluminum wiring
>>because of the excessively high cost of copper at the time. When we
>>first moved in, every light switch and outlet was replaced with CO/ALR
>>devices and the wires coated with a no-ox compound. (Yeah, we found a
>>whole bunch of Cu-rated switches and outlets with all the accompanying
>>snap, crackle and pop of flukey Cu-Al connections). And no the house
>>didn't burn down - fortunately. Obviously, aluminum wiring is not to
>>code any longer, and yes, I've considered re-wiring the house with
>>copper.
>>
>>Now here's my quandry - I'd like to add recessed lighting, dimmer
>>switches and two new outlets to the bedroom. Of course all those
>>devices are rated for Cu wire. What are the options for
>>interconnecting Cu wire to the existing Al? I I know I can use
>>COPALUM connections ($35-$55 per connector -ouch!). Or can Ideal #65
>>Twister connectors be used, if available?
>>
>>COPALUM would be easier than re-wiring the house. Then again a re-
>>wire would allow me to hook up each room in the house with one or more
>>dedicated circuit breakers. That way I could work on, say, a bathroom
>>fixture without having to kill the power on half the upper floor. Any
>>suggestions, or have I already answered my own question?
>>
>>Thanks in advance,
>>
>>Steve
>>
>>"If we knew what we were doing, it wouldn't be called research, would
>>it? "
>>Albert Einstein
>
>
> Sorry about you troubles. You might want to stay away from the Ideal
> 65
> http://www.inspect-ny.com/aluminum/ideal65.htm
> supposedly the 3M scotchlock is a better alternative
> http://www.inspect-ny.com/aluminum/alreduce.htm#1C
The whole paper at:
http://www.inspect-ny.com/aluminum/alreduce.htm
has the best information I have seen on options for aluminum wire. The
information is the result of extensive testing of aluminum connections
for the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which apparently tried to
recall aluminum 15 & 20A branch circuit wire.
I would probably pigtail using scotchlocks and the *detailed procedure*
in the paper.
More information, much of it derived from the CPSC, is at the wider link:
http://www.inspect-ny.com/aluminum/aluminum.htm
This link has very limited information on the AlumiConn connectors in a
couple other posts.
A major problem with aluminum connections is a very thin oxide layer
that rapidly forms on aluminum surfaces. The layer is an insulator and
transparent. The "procedure" in the paper removes the oxide layer. The
screws on 15/20A receptacles may not bite through. Wirenuts won't
reliably bite through either. The AlumiConn probably will.
>
> If it were me (I also have Al wiring) I wouldn't pigtail or 'upgrade'
> any circuit. Any chance you get replace with copper.
>
> You will be told by others here that Al wire is not outlawed and is
> used in transmission lines and for big appliances such as AC and
> ranges every day (true). You may also hear that Al is no more
> dangerous than copper if installed by a licensed electrician (false).
> Why take a chance? Al is much less forgiving than copper and not
> worth the risk.
>
The problem has been on 15 & 20A branch circuits (where aluminum is
still permitted but seldom if ever used).
--
bud--
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