Originally Posted By: rray This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
The dictionary says that cladding is “something that covers or overlays; specifically : metal coating bonded to a metal core,” so I think the wire is copper and the cladding is aluminum. So I’ll go with aluminum-cladded (aluminum-clad?) copper wiring. Correct?
Originally Posted By: bbadger This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Hey Russel.
If you are asking about the older cloth covered conductors they where often tin plated copper. I have never seen tinned copper conductors with plastic insulation.
There is also copper clad aluminum from the late 60s early 70s (?) this always has a plastic type insulation.
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Originally Posted By: rray This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
I’m just curious about proper verbiage.
The wire I'm interested in appears to be a copper wire covered with what appears to be aluminum. With that statement, is it called "aluminum-clad copper wire" or "copper-clad aluminum wire"?
My English proficiency tells me that since the core is a copper wire and the covering is aluminum, that it should be aluminum-clad copper wire. Note that "aluminum-clad" modifies "copper wire."
However, proper English has never stopped any profession from naming something the way that profession sees fit.
Originally Posted By: jpope This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Quote:
My English proficiency tells me that since the core is a copper wire and the covering is aluminum, that it should be aluminum-clad copper wire. Note that "aluminum-clad" modifies "copper wire."
But I think you're actually seeing "tinned" copper, as opposed to "aluminum clad" copper.
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JPI Home Inspection Service
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Originally Posted By: kmcmahon This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
bbadger wrote:
Hey Russel.
If you are asking about the older cloth covered conductors they where often tin plated copper. I have never seen tinned copper conductors with plastic insulation.
There is also copper clad aluminum from the late 60s early 70s (?) this always has a plastic type insulation.
Please send a margarita this way if my post helped. 
That threw me while inspecting my own home thinking I had aluminum wiring, when in fact it was copper clad aluminum, but the older tin plated copper which sorta looks like AL. Electrician that came in had a good laugh I'm sure at the inspector that couldn't tell the difference.
Originally Posted By: rray This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
I saw a wire at Home Depot labeled “copper clad aluminum” and just thought that they had it labeled wrong (wouldn’t be the first time). Unfortunately, I didn’t look closely at the wire to see whether it was a copper core or an aluminum core.
Originally Posted By: rray This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
So copper-clad aluminum is an aluminum core wire, right?
I always thought that the whole purpose of copper-clad aluminum was that, once they found out aluminum didn't work but still needed to save on the expensive copper, they used a small copper core and covered it with aluminum. Instead, they used a smaller aluminum core and covered it with copper. Correct?
