aluminum wiring: Aluminum Wiring - What is the Hazard?
- 03/19/08 10:49 AM
Aluminum is a fine conductor of electric. It is much cheaper than copper. Just about all the exterior wire on utility poles (all in most areas) is aluminum. If it were copper people would be climbing the poles to steal it and sell it for scrap. The problem with single strand aluminum wiring is the connections oxidize develop high impedance connections and get hot. Connections can get so hot they can allow a house fire to occur. Even connections that do not get hot enough to ignite wood can get hot enough to lower the ignition temperature of wood by a … (2 comments)
aluminum wiring: What Aluminum Wiring Looks Like
- 03/19/08 10:43 AM
While training a home inspector I saw an electrical contractor's apprentice look right at a panel wired with aluminum wiring and not even notice it. Why? He did not think to look for it because the home was "too new" to have aluminum wiring. He was correct, the home was built long after aluminum wiring was commonly used. Someone must have found an old coil or two around when the addition was added. What does aluminum wiring look like? How would most home owner's or Realtors know the home had aluminum wiring? If the home has BX (metal exterior wiring) it does … (0 comments)
Aluminum is a fine conductor of electric. It is much cheaper than copper. Just about all the exterior wire on utility poles (all in most areas) is aluminum. If it were copper people would be climbing the poles to steal it and sell it for scrap.;)
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