The coefficients of expansion are sufficiently different between aluminum and traditional wiring devices that connections would go loose over time, yielding a resistive connection and fire.
The outer surface of aluminum is aluminum oxide, a non-conductor. To make a low-resistance electrical connection, the termination must break through the oxide. (Oxidation is almost instantaneous; welding of aluminum must be done in an inert atmosphere.) Best wishes for the holiday season, Rich > -----Original Message----- > From: Ralph McDiarmid > [mailto:Ralph.McDiarmid@SCHNEIDER- > ELECTRIC.COM] > Sent: Monday, December 12, 2016 11:50 AM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [PSES] aluminum vs copper wiring > > I've just come across this statement in a user manual for a > small inverter product: > > "Do not use aluminum. It has about 1/3 more resistance > than copper cable of the same size, and it is difficult to > make good, > low-resistance connections to aluminum wire" > > I think both statements are wrong. Science Data Book by > Oliver&Boyd, lists resistivity of aluminum at about 1.5X > that of copper. And, I don't see why electrical connections > would be less reliable using aluminum, although, I do > remember household wiring in the USA was done with Al > some years ago with questionable success. > > Thoughts? > > Ralph McDiarmid > Product Compliance > Engineering > Solar Business > Schneider Electric > > > > ________________________________ > This message was scanned by Exchange Online Protection > Services. > ________________________________ > > - > -------------------------------------------------- -------------- > This message is from the IEEE Product Safety Engineering > Society emc-pstc discussion list. To post a message to the > list, send your e-mail to <[email protected]> > > All emc-pstc postings are archived and searchable on the > web at: > http://www.ieee-pses.org/emc-pstc.html > > Attachments are not permitted but the IEEE PSES Online > Communities site at http://product-compliance.oc.ieee.org/ > can be used for graphics (in well-used formats), large files, > etc. > > Website: http://www.ieee-pses.org/ > Instructions: http://www.ieee-pses.org/list.html (including > how to unsubscribe) > List rules: http://www.ieee-pses.org/listrules.html > > For help, send mail to the list administrators: > Scott Douglas <[email protected]> > Mike Cantwell <[email protected]> > > For policy questions, send mail to: > Jim Bacher: <[email protected]> > David Heald: <[email protected]> - ---------------------------------------------------------------- This message is from the IEEE Product Safety Engineering Society emc-pstc discussion list. To post a message to the list, send your e-mail to <[email protected]> All emc-pstc postings are archived and searchable on the web at: http://www.ieee-pses.org/emc-pstc.html Attachments are not permitted but the IEEE PSES Online Communities site at http://product-compliance.oc.ieee.org/ can be used for graphics (in well-used formats), large files, etc. Website: http://www.ieee-pses.org/ Instructions: http://www.ieee-pses.org/list.html (including how to unsubscribe) List rules: http://www.ieee-pses.org/listrules.html For help, send mail to the list administrators: Scott Douglas <[email protected]> Mike Cantwell <[email protected]> For policy questions, send mail to: Jim Bacher: <[email protected]> David Heald: <[email protected]>
