Aluminum was legal at one point, as I recall it was the 80's (copper
prices were obscene). It was an expensive mistake to allow aluminum wiring.
I attended some fires as a result of aluminum wire (career firefighter,
eventually Captain). My suspicion was that as switches and plugs were
used, aluminum tolerated the small flexing less than copper (which
basically self heals, molds to the connection being softer) and as it is
exposed to air, a layer of aluminum oxide is produced (wrapping the
internal content ) creating higher resistance.
Over time the resistance and small flexes caused arcing, that gets to a
point that it heats; causing the excitement.
I don't have the chemistry or metallurigc background to confirm this;
but this was the result of the cause investigation..
Adding a copper pigtail is a practical solution (cheaper than replacing
all the wire). Aluminum wire is not used by me, anywhere, just like the
backstab plugs and switches (if you can't bind them down; don't use
them). I have seen the harm that can result and don't want to lose my
house and possessions as I've seen others lose.
In the cost of a house or shack, copper; the small increase in cost
reaps major benefits (and aluminum is no longer legal for new
construction, at least when I retired).
73,
Rick nk7i
On 11/14/2022 2:25 PM, Fred Jensen wrote:
When my younger brother was finally out of the house for good, Mom and
Dad bought a double-wide, sold the house in So. Central LAX, and moved
south into a "Mobile Estates Park" in Costa Mesa. The wiring was Al.
About 3 years later, they had a problem in one of the outlets that
involved a small amount of smoke. That wasn't a serious incident, but
Dad had to go around to each of the switches and outlets and put Cu
pigtails on the Al wires to connect to the devices. I never got a
clear story about what caused the original problem or why this would
fix it. But, I'm really wary of Al wiring in house in which we sleep.
73,
Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW
Sparks NV DM09dn
Washoe County
Lyn Norstad wrote on 11/14/2022 2:08 PM:
Ed -
I cringe when I think of aluminum wiring. I know it's currently
about half
the price of copper, but a townhouse I lived in from 1979-1982 in
Chicago
caught fire because of aluminum wiring and copper outlets. In fact,
statistics show that 50% of home fires are due to aluminum wiring.
Aluminum does not meet any current (pun by chance ...) building codes
around
here. It's all copper. Has been for at least 40 years.
If you're stuck with aluminum (and it's legal??), be sure to
liberally apply
antioxidant where needed.
73
Lyn, WØLEN
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net
This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
