Is aluminum allowed anywhere in branch circuit wiring?
Yes, it just cannot be installed in the smaller size branch circuits. Why do you ask?
I am taking a course where it is being taught as a grandfathered item / no further evaluation needed. “Just check for presence of Noalox.”
Your “course” is misleading you, if that’s actually what is being “taught.”
AL wiring is perfectly acceptable, however, when found in existing homes from the era of 1968 to 1975 (roughly), you should investigate a bit further on your own before deciding whether or not to defer to an electrician.
The conductor itself is not an issue, it’s the connection points. AL wiring of that era has a history of problematic connection points.
So, the AL wiring is permissible but due to the expansion/contraction issue we should be checking integrity of connection at breakers? What about at the receptacle connections which we cannot see?
The use of an antioxidant is not required although it is a good practice.
It’s going to be an issue concerning homeowners insurance. Only the smaller solid conductor AL wiring is the issue. There are repair options to the outlet connections that will suffice with SOME carriers. Search the MB for more info.
Aluminum conductors are still being installed today. There is a good chance the service conductors for the house are aluminum.
I agree with Jeff you’re being given misinformation. Anti-oxidant paste is a cheap insurance policy but it not a replacement for proper terminations. If the AL conductors are stranded they’re not likely to be problematic if installed and terminated properly.
Thanks - my SECs are aluminum. Looking to determine how to handle aluminum branch circuit wiring. I’m in Florida and was temporarily denied insurance because of multistrand copper wiring with aluminum coating coming from my FLP OnCall box. I had to have the OnCall syatem removed to maintain coverage.
I have never heard of aluminum coated copper. Most likely just tinned at the end to provide a better connection. Who’s report denied your insurance due to this.
Perhaps you had copper clad aluminum?
I am familiar with those FPL energy saver boxes…none of them use anything else but multi-strand copper conductors.
Yep, sounds like you got over zealous inspector on that one.
Here’s another pic of the wire that caused me to be denied coverage. It has a silver looking coating that Florida Peninsula interpreted as aluminum = required removal.
Could those be tin coated stranded copper conductors? And what kind of cable were the conductors in?
Looks like multi-strand AL… into a SquareD breaker (approved for the two conductor application-NOT double tapped), although the conductors do need to be the same type and size.
Looks to me like you got screwed by a non-inspector inspector, you know the type, the ones too lazy and/or too stupid to perform “real” inspections!
What does the coding on the insulation say?
I tossed the wire. FPL gave it to me to argue the insurance company. Once it was resolved I chucked it.