Home Page link

Pigtailing Aluminum wiring with copper....

Home Repair - - If it ain't broken, don't fix it. Otherwise look here. 

Page 1 of 3       1 2 3 > last >> Bookmark this page:  YahooMyWeb Yahoo!  Google Google  Windows Live Favorites Windows Live  del.icio.us del.icio.us  digg digg  Add to Netscape Netscape
Subject Author Date
Pigtailing Aluminum wiring with copper.... grant6607 09-03-2006
If you were  Registered and logged in, you could reply and use other advanced thread options
Posted by grant6607 on September 3, 2006, 4:36 pm
My house was built in the 70's and as a result was fitted with aluminum
wiring. I want to pigtail all the outlets, switches and lighting with
a small copper piece. As I understand it, this will help with problems
of oxidization and over heating.

I am finding mixed information on the best way to do this. I know there
is an anti-oxidization paste i should be using but can't find if there
is a special type of connector needed?

Is there a special connector required for aluminum to copper
connections?
Is there a preffered brand of anti-oxidizing paste?

Thanks so much for any advice!!!!!

-- Grant


AppliancePartsPros.com, Inc.
Posted by grant6607 on September 3, 2006, 5:02 pm
Apologies, i should have known better and searched before posting.

I have found most of the answers in thei post:
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.home.repair/browse_thread/thread/db585021fe6ccb60/ff4502de7ce6cb6a?lnk=gst&q=aluminum&rnum=2#ff4502de7ce6cb6a

Basically I can use AL\Cu connectors as long as the anit-oxidant paste
is used.

Grant


grant6607 wrote:
> My house was built in the 70's and as a result was fitted with aluminum
> wiring. I want to pigtail all the outlets, switches and lighting with
> a small copper piece. As I understand it, this will help with problems
> of oxidization and over heating.
>
> I am finding mixed information on the best way to do this. I know there
> is an anti-oxidization paste i should be using but can't find if there
> is a special type of connector needed?
>
> Is there a special connector required for aluminum to copper
> connections?
> Is there a preffered brand of anti-oxidizing paste?
>
> Thanks so much for any advice!!!!!
>
> -- Grant


Posted by Eric in North TX on September 3, 2006, 5:17 pm

My electrician made reference to a splice from aluminum to copper which
is safe, I did a little internet search and came up with this:
The crimp connector repair consists of attaching a piece of copper wire
to the existing aluminum wire branch circuit with a specially designed
metal sleeve and powered crimping tool. The metal sleeve is called a
COPALUM parallel splice connector and is manufactured only by AMP
Incorporated. This special connector can be properly installed only
with the matching AMP tool. This tool makes a permanent connection
that is, in effect a cold weld. An insulating sleeve is placed around
the crimp connector to complete the repair.

Source: http://www.heimer.com/information/aluminum_wiring.html


Posted by on September 4, 2006, 11:53 am

>Apologies, i should have known better and searched before posting.
>
>I have found most of the answers in thei post:
>http://groups.google.com/group/alt.home.repair/browse_thread/thread/db585021fe6ccb60/ff4502de7ce6cb6a?lnk=gst&q=aluminum&rnum=2#ff4502de7ce6cb6a
>
>Basically I can use AL\Cu connectors as long as the anit-oxidant paste
>is used.
>
>Grant

To help you, I only know of, and seen used, the only wire nut UL
listed, for AL/Cu Connection, so I've been told. It's the "Purple
Nuts" pretreated with a NoOx, Twister® Al/Cu Wire Connector.

http://www.urlbee.com?8627

When I flipped through a EC&M, I found another manufacturer has come
out with another type of connector, AlumiConn™ Aluminum to Copper Lug.
Made by King Innovation. Infact it looks so good, I might order up
one of their free samples.

http://www.urlbee.com?8629


Note with doing any work with Al wire, it is not as forgiving as Cu.
You need to make sure you follow all manufacturer instructions (per
NEC 110.3.b), and peform all work in a professional manor (NEC
110.12). Add I was told the 'purple nuts' were a one time use.
Meaning you cannot reuse them, so prepare your work a head of time,
and per the NEC, only qualified personnel can do electrical work, so
this post isn't a how-to, just a fyi for a starting point for
research.

Good luck.

tom




>
>
>grant6607 wrote:
>> My house was built in the 70's and as a result was fitted with aluminum
>> wiring. I want to pigtail all the outlets, switches and lighting with
>> a small copper piece. As I understand it, this will help with problems
>> of oxidization and over heating.
>>
>> I am finding mixed information on the best way to do this. I know there
>> is an anti-oxidization paste i should be using but can't find if there
>> is a special type of connector needed?
>>
>> Is there a special connector required for aluminum to copper
>> connections?
>> Is there a preffered brand of anti-oxidizing paste?
>>
>> Thanks so much for any advice!!!!!
>>
>> -- Grant

Posted by RayV on September 3, 2006, 8:57 pm

grant6607 wrote:
> My house was built in the 70's and as a result was fitted with aluminum
> wiring. I want to pigtail all the outlets, switches and lighting with
> a small copper piece. As I understand it, this will help with problems
> of oxidization and over heating.
>
> I am finding mixed information on the best way to do this. I know there
> is an anti-oxidization paste i should be using but can't find if there
> is a special type of connector needed?
>
> Is there a special connector required for aluminum to copper
> connections?
> Is there a preffered brand of anti-oxidizing paste?
>
> Thanks so much for any advice!!!!!
>
> -- Grant

This was posted as an option by another a few days ago:
http://www.kinginnovation.com/products/alumiconn.html

go to this site to get more info:
http://www.inspect-ny.com/aluminum/aluminum.htm

'pigtailing' can make the problem worse.


Page 1 of 3       1 2 3 > last >>
Similar ThreadsPosted
Choices for wiring aluminum to copper for oven November 2, 2006, 10:48 pm
Goodbye Copper, Hello Pex and Aluminum July 6, 2006, 5:39 pm
Aluminum Wiring options. January 31, 2007, 1:04 pm
Aluminum Stove Wiring June 25, 2007, 8:07 pm
Aluminum Wiring Question (CO/ALR devices) October 26, 2005, 3:53 pm
Aluminum Wiring Refit Approach June 15, 2005, 10:18 pm
lighted switches & aluminum wiring August 25, 2006, 4:16 am
Info to backup safety of aluminum wiring? August 9, 2005, 11:25 am
Re: Info to backup safety of aluminum wiring? August 11, 2005, 9:52 am
Wiring oven and cooktop to aluminum supply wires October 31, 2006, 1:52 am

Contact Us | Privacy Policy

XML SitemapXML Sitemap