FP

[ryoung7 (ROBERT YOUNG, CMI)]

Stacked condo.
Main service entrance conductors and Ground are AL.
Under 200amp.
Single phase 3 wire. 125 amp.
Federal Pioneer stabloc. Not worried about the panel.

Everything looks good.
Question. A group of AL 14Ga. aluminium is under one lug.
Is this typical.

All HI res photos.

j7 is suspect AL on the left bus.

Thank you.
Just finishing off the report.

Sorry all for the editing. My modem failed.

[jpope (Jeffrey Pope, CMI, CHI, CPI, ICC)]

What’s your question Robert?

I often see grounds bundled under a single lug. I’ve never seen a lug listed for a “bundle,” so I always recommend proper termination at an installed grounding terminal.

Typically (assuming this is NM wiring), if the neutral is AL, the ungrounded conductor will also be AL. Solid-strand AL should be traced to its outlet. I recommend “pig tailing” AL to CU at outlets (switches, receptacles, equipment, etc.).

[ryoung7 (ROBERT YOUNG, CMI)]

@jpope

What’s your question Robert?

I often see grounds bundled under a single lug. I’ve never seen a lug listed for a “bundle,” so I always recommend proper termination at an installed grounding terminal.

Typically (assuming this is NM wiring), if the neutral is AL, the ungrounded conductor will also be AL. Solid-strand AL should be traced to its outlet. I recommend “pig tailing” AL to CU at outlets (switches, receptacles, equipment, etc.).

1# Jeff, Why are the ganged (bundled) solid strand aluminum conductors under one grounding lug?

2# Why are the grounds on the bus bars are copper?

3# what is the difference between the two and does it effect the systems safety?.

4# 2 thin strand aluminum conductors on the left hand bus bar. Is this normal.

[jpope (Jeffrey Pope, CMI, CHI, CPI, ICC)]

1# Jeff, Why are the ganged (bundled) solid strand aluminum conductors under one grounding lug? It almost appears to be a multi-strand (single) conductor, rather than a bundle. This could be an equipment grounding conductor or even a grounding electrode conductor.

2# Why are the grounds on the bus bars are copper? It would make sense that the NM wiring is CU, which would include the egc’s.

3# what is the difference between the two and does it effect the systems safety? AL does not conduct electricity as well as CU (that’s why the conductors have to be bigger for the same current as CU), and is only an issue under certain circumstances. AL is allowed by model codes, but most AL these days is stranded rather than solid.

4# 2 thin strand aluminum conductors on the left hand bus bar. Is this normal. I’ve seen egc’s added after the fact that look like this, although I usually see CU. I can’t really offer anything else for that question.

[ryoung7 (ROBERT YOUNG, CMI)]

@jpope

1# Jeff, Why are the ganged (bundled) solid strand aluminum conductors under one grounding lug? It almost appears to be a multi-strand (single) conductor, rather than a bundle. This could be an equipment grounding conductor or even a grounding electrode conductor.

2# Why are the grounds on the bus bars are copper? It would make sense that the NM wiring is CU, which would include the egc’s.

3# what is the difference between the two and does it effect the systems safety? AL does not conduct electricity as well as CU (that’s why the conductors have to be bigger for the same current as CU), and is only an issue under certain circumstances. AL is allowed by model codes, but most AL these days is stranded rather than solid.

4# 2 thin strand aluminum conductors on the left hand bus bar. Is this normal. I’ve seen egc’s added after the fact that look like this, although I usually see CU. I can’t really offer anything else for that question.

Thanks Jeff.
After I put my thinking cap on and started to see smoke coming from my ears and warmth from the dormer I looked into the system.
3 wires.
Hence the aluminum for the ground and copper for the branch.
I looked again to at the bundled AL and think you are right.
No issues.
I did not think there was

Thanks Jeff.
All the best.