Aluminum wiring

rray · June 1, 2006, 5:32pm

I’ve never seen single-strand aluminum wiring in circuits other than 15- and 20-Amp circuits. One of yesterday’s inspections had the proper wire size in 40-amp and 50-amp circuits, but it was single-strand aluminum. Am I correct in my understanding that the larger aluminum wires do not have the same problems associated with them that the smaller wires do?

gbeaumont · June 1, 2006, 5:42pm

Hi Russel, all single strand Aluminum should be concidered suspect, I would recommend that the circuits be checked by an electrician and that at least the connections are correctly torqued.

BTW what age was the home? as I have never seen Aluminum single strand in those sizes.

Regards

Gerry

rray · June 1, 2006, 5:52pm

Thanks, Gerry.

Home was built in 1978 with significant modifications in 1987.

Electric panel was I-T-E, vintage 1978.

jpope · June 1, 2006, 8:58pm

I concur with Gerry. Only multi-strand AL should be considered “safe” for use as current carrying conductors.

When sized properly and used as the GEC and/or an EGC, solid AL conductors do not present the same problems.

pabernathy · June 2, 2006, 1:27pm

RRAY,

 I have seen single strand AL up to a #8 AWG before...but it is not something you will find everyday...thats for sure.

Greg_Fretwell · June 12, 2006, 8:38pm

I have never seen 6 or 4 al solid that you would need for 40 and 50a circuits. OTOH The real issue with al is the termination style not the wire.
Actually I haven’t seen 8 solid al either but even then it could only be used as a single conductor, not in a cable or raceway.

bkelly2 · June 14, 2006, 10:47pm

Drywer circuit today.

dduffy · June 14, 2006, 11:22pm

Another builder saving a couple bucks… …as usual.

cbuell · June 14, 2006, 11:49pm

Here is some aluminum wiring I found today.

Doonan 181.jpg

jclark1 · June 15, 2006, 2:54am

I love finding stuff like that! Easy to write up and you feel like you might have saved someone from an electrical fire. If they fix it,that is.

pabernathy · June 16, 2006, 12:15am

Charles,

Still amazes me when I see things like that.......just a lack of concern on the person that did it......they are probably still saying...well it ain't burnt down yet.....Git er Done.....

Makes me wanna SLAP the home owner....

James- You are right…IF they fix it…could not agree more.

jburkeson1 · June 17, 2006, 3:41pm

I have never seen single-strand solid aluminum larger then #10, and I must have installed miles of aluminum wire back in the 70’s. Maybe it was a New Jersey thing, but all aluminum conductors larger then #10 were to my recollection multi-stranded SEU/SER.