I know, did he seriously go through all the coursework and testing to become certified, just to participate in the forum? Thats some dedication
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I dont see anything saying certified…certifiable most certainly…but nothing says certified as a home inspector…
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Mike Parksmparks3InterNACHI®️ CPI
CPI, certified professional inspector, means he went through all the coursework, passed exams, and is now an Internachi member
You are right I had not seen that…go figure …I believe I read where He posted that He did not do home inspections, only electrical code inspections…cant imagine why he would be hanging around here again unless He has been asked to leave everywhere else…I don’t imagine he will be here long…
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Wait, is this the guy that claims he is the only person licensed to open electrical panels in the state of Ohio?
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No - for the free CE’s
Never claimed that. Careful
I think on the entire planet Jeff as I recall,
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As long as I am a member - thanks for the warm welcome
yes - just like most of you here.
Because I am a member with the same rights as you. One of which is to be treated with respect.
Um, calling crazy on that one.
The standard outlets and switches available from big brands are Copper/Aluminum certified. Not all of them, but enough.
Adding a wire nut and pigtail is just adding potential points of failure as far as I can see.
Never mind the wire nut color, the lack of a wire nut is safer.
Example: Pass & Seymour 3232ICACC20 2 Pole 3 Wire Copper/Aluminum
Standard Duplex Outlet, 15-Amp, 125-volt, Ivory
EATON Wiring 5221-7V-SP-L 15-Amp Standard Grade Copper/Aluminum Single Pole Toggle Switch, Ivory
A “backwire” outlet has a similar clamping action to a COPALUM connector, and is available in versions rated for aluminum wire.
U.S. CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20207
May 1, 1995
Mr. James Beyreis
Vice President and Chief Engineer
Underwriters Laboratories Inc.
333 Pfingsten Road
Northbrook, IL 60062-2096
Subject: CPSC Staff Concerns Regarding Recently Listed Aluminum Wire Twist-On Connectors
Dear Jim:
As you are aware, the CPSC has worked cooperatively with Underwriters Laboratories (UL) over the past two decades. I hope to continue and improve this cooperation to ensure public safety is adequately protected, maintained, and where necessary, improved. I briefly discussed the subject of this letter with Mr. David Dini of UL on April 20, 1995. I suggested we arrange an open meeting to discuss this issue further.
To aid in the discussion, attached are CPSC staff concerns regarding the subject
connectors. Members of The CPSC staff are concerned wit this product and its applications in homes with aluminum wiring. I propose that The topics in the attachment be the agenda for our technical discussions. Mr. Dini indicated he would discuss this matter wit you, and someone would be in contact wit me to arrange a date for these discussions.
I look forward to meeting with you and discussing this product safety issue in the near future. If you have any questions regarding this matter, please feel free to call me at 301-504-0504, extension 1290.
Sincerely,
Andrew G. Stadnik, P.E.
Associate Executive Director
Engineering Sciences
Attachment as noted.
D. Haataja, UL-Washington, D.C.
T. Castino, UL-Northbrook, IL
CPSC Staff Concerns with the Application of Twist-on AL/CU Wire Connectors
The principal application for a listed, twist-on, AL/CU connector is homes wired with aluminum wiring during the mid-I 960’s to early 1970’s before safety concerns resulted in aluminum wiring no longer being used. Many consumers living in these homes will believe that such a connector is a safe, permanent repair for aluminum wiring connections at outlet terminals and splices. The
CPSC staff has the following concerns with the application of these connectors:
-
Wiring Used to Test the Connectors Differs From Wiring Installed in Many Homes -
Many of the estimated 2 million homes with aluminum wiring have a hard-drawn
grade of aluminum wiring (ECHi9 and other grades) that is not adequately represented by the aluminum alloy currently used to qualify connectors for use with aluminum conductors. Testing is also conducted using fresh samples and not with contaminated and distorted conductors representative of wires in the field that have been previously used -
UL Standard for Twist-on Connectors Lacks Environmental Testing - UL testing does not appear to include testing under appropriate conditions of ambient temperature, humidity or household contaminants.
-
Connectors Likely to be Mis-Applied by Consumers - The availability of a manually
applied, twist-on connector for use with aluminum wire will result in many consumers attempting to repair and service their aluminum-wired homes themselves. Prior to that time, consumers would not have available to them the proper special crimping tools needed to follow the CPSC-recommended repair procedure. These crimping tools are made available to trained electrical contractors on a lease arrangement to assure proper correction of this recognized fire hazard. It does not appear that a UL evaluation for twist-on AL/CU wire connectors takes into account that untrained, do-it-yourself consumers will likely undertake using such a connector with aluminum wiring. Even if a connector performed satisfactorily when installed in accordance with the installation instructions, the likelihood for improper installation is very high especially if inordinate and unique special instructions when using aluminum wiring are included for this rather common-looking connector. -
Anti-Oxidant Compound Flammability - Compounds that are used with AL/CU wire
connectors are often petroleum-based greases that are flammable. With such materials, excessive heat and direct exposure to flame should be avoided. However, excessive heat is the consequence when a connector fails and the twist-on connector when used with aluminum wiring has a propensity to fail. -
Connector Body Flammability - Connector bodies often consist of non-flame-retardant
grades of thermoplastic materials. Once ignited, they will continue to burn with a flaming drip.
In the presence of a failing connection, this represents a serious fire hazard. -
Connector Violates Principle of Safe Wire-to-Wire Electrical Splices - A twist-on
connector is intended to join two or more wire conductors within its cap. The purpose of the cap is to hold the wires together, Electricity is intended to flow from wire-to-wire. In the case of two solid wire conductors joined by a twist-on connector without pre-twisting the wires, the two wires connect with each other along a longitudinal line of contact. This results in poor performing contact surfaces when the conductor material is aluminum because the aluminum oxide that exists on the surfaces of aluminum wires is nonconductive. While initially a connector may appear to perform in a satisfactory manner, the conduction may be related more to the wiping action of the steel spring commonly used in such connectors. The steel spring gouges the outer surfaces of the aluminum wires, penetrates the aluminum oxide, and provides a principal path for the electric current. The steel spring becomes part of the electric circuit, and not simply as a means to apply pressure between the two wires to hold them in contact with each other. Using steel as a circuit bridge between an aluminum wire and another wire violates design practices for connecting aluminum wire, and violates provisions of UL’s own standards. -
Aluminum Wires Installed in Homes Are Weak in Resisting Shear Fracture - The
twisting action that takes place when applying a twist-on connector to aluminum 'wires, given the physical properties of aluminum wires used in homes, results in forces that can readily sever the aluminum wires where they enter the cap of a connector. -
Field Failures Involve Twist-on Connectors With Aluminum Wire - CPSC has received
many reports of failures of twist-on connectors. In response, UL proposed and adopted revised
requirements for these connectors when rated for use with aluminum wiring. CPSC staff on
several occasions expressed reservations to UL in writing regarding the adequacy of the revised
requirements. These CPSC concerns were never addressed to CPSC staff’s satisfaction.
Meanwhile, the reports of field failures involving twist-on connectors and aluminum wire
continue, including reports of disappointing performance of a special service twist-on connector
made with a copper alloy spring and used in Canada for a time. -
Mechanical Integrity With No. 10 and 12 American Wire Gage (AWG) Solid Aluminum
Conductors - Experience with using twist-on type connectors and the relatively stiff wires
characteristic of aluminum wiring used in homes indicates poor performance because the
resulting connection often lacks mechanical integrity. When such splices were positioned into the limited volume provided in outlet boxes installed in homes, the connections would readily come apart. -
Limited Technical Data to Support Twist-on Connector For Aluminum Wire - No
scientific rationale or engineering design analysis that addresses the long term safety of a twist-on AL/CU connector product has been presented. Such documentation is appropriate since the experience with previous forms of this product resulted in unsafe and unsatisfactory performance in the field.
https://inspectapedia.com/aluminum/Aluminum_Wire_Twist_On_Connectors_CPSC_Concerns.php
Basically the above letter is the CPSC ripping a hole into the UL. It’s not a nice letter: it accuses UL of negligence.
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Thanks for sharing that - I tried to see this letter from another source, but it wouldn’t open. It answers some questions.
Nice find Bryce. A compelling letter to say the least.
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Yet… the offending wire nuts are still for sale with no warnings. That compelling letter apparently did not lead to sufficiently strong regulatory action to change the course of history.
It’s hard not to compare to Europe, where regulators will take a heavier hand, and there’s less ability of private capital to push back against regulators.
Another source says European companies never got on the Aluminum boat even for transmission:
“WimBOONE in the Netherlands and ArnavKACKER in Germany have reached the following conclusions through Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA).” basically that Aluminum is cheaper up front, costs more long term. “It is concluded that aluminum alloy cables are not suitable for European countries.”
What appears NOT to have happened are real accelerated environmental testing of old wire with new connectors of at least four types: spring twist, copalum, screw terminal, backwire squeeze clamp and Wago Style spring terminals.
Would springs work better long term with expanding and contracting metal? It would have to be tested.
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I bet that there are more fires from the use of extension cords than these wire nuts. Maybe we should ban extension cords.
You can’t protect untrained persons.
Maybe we should out law pennies. You know that people use them as fuses.
I actually inspected a home last month that had aluminum wiring. The inspection was a 4-Point requested by their insurance carrier. I returned to the home last week to re-inspect. The homeowner says the electrician found several light fixtures that had been pig-tailed with copper, with wire nuts… only overhead light fixtures had been done (Don’t know why…) but each of those with wire nuts had singed and in one case, melted wire nuts at that pig-tail. I asked her if he or she had taken pictures, but she said no - would like to have seen it. Mitigating with AlumiConn connectors cost her $7,800…but she was happy for her safety.
Especially when anyone can buy them at any big box store
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