Where is aluminum wiring used

Aluminum wiring. Topics What is aluminum wiring? How does it work? Repairing Maintaining Life expectancy Home insurance details Commonly asked questions. What is aluminum wiring? How does aluminum wiring work? Some of these qualities are: Higher electrical resistance: Aluminum has a high resistance to electrical current flow.

Therefore, given the same amperage, aluminum conductors need to have a larger diameter than copper conductors. Less ductile: Aluminum will wear and break down more readily when subjected to bending and other forms of abuse than copper, which is more pliable.

Wear, over time, causes the wire to break down internally and will progressively resist electrical current, causing a build-up of excessive heat. Galvanic corrosion: In there is moisture present, aluminum in homes will experience galvanic corrosion when it makes contact with certain dissimilar metals. Oxidation: The outer surface of the wire will deteriorate when exposed to oxygen. This is known as oxidation.

Aluminum wire oxidizes more easily than copper wire, and the compound formed by oxidation — aluminum oxide — is less conductive than copper oxide. Over time, oxidation can deteriorate connections and present an increased fire hazard.

Greater malleability: Aluminum is soft and malleable, so it is extremely sensitive to compression. This can create a loose connection and increase electrical resistance in that spot. Greater thermal expansion and contraction: Aluminum expands and contracts with changes in temperature more than copper does. As time passes, this will cause connections to degrade.

Aluminum wiring is safer with screw-type connections, that is, where the electrical wire is wrapped around a screw and kept in place by the head of the screw instead of being pushed in through the back. Excessive vibration: Electrical current causes vibrations when passing through wiring. The vibrating is greater in aluminum than it is in copper, and, over time, can cause connections to loosen.

What should you do when something goes wrong? When should you call an electrician? Strange odors, or even worse, smoke or sparks around receptacles or switches. Maybe, maybe not. Seattle home inspector Charles Buell shared a story some time ago about how he was hired to check on some repairs that were made at a home that he had previously inspected, and he found at least one junction box and one light fixture that had been missed. You can read about it here: incomplete aluminum wiring repairs.

The surest and most complete repair is to have aluminum wiring replaced. The obvious drawback to this is the expense involved. Of course, the expense depends on how much aluminum wiring is present and will vary greatly from house to house.

This is where the electrician comes in. The easiest and most obvious place to find aluminum wiring is inside of the main electric panel. The pictures below show a mix of aluminum and copper wiring inside of the panels. Just watch out for tin-coated copper wiring. This is not aluminum wiring.

People do crazy things. And finally, the least reliable method but still a good one, is to read the writing on the non-metallic sheathed cable. Specifically, look for the and gauge wires. Aluminum wiring will be marked as such. This inspection will require the inspection of at least a representative number of connections. This means pulling outlets out of the wall, pulling switches out of the wall, taking lights down to inspect the connections, pulling wires out of junction boxes, etc.

For some more detailed discussions regarding the specific hazards with aluminum wiring, here are some excellent related documents:. Reuben Saltzman April 30, , am. How dangerous is old electrical wiring? All Rights Reserved. Phone: When was aluminum wiring used in BC? What does aluminum wiring look like? What makes aluminum wiring dangerous?

How does aluminum wiring cause fires? My house has Aluminum Wiring, What should I do? Need an Electrician? Email service wirechiefelectric. Request a Quote Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form. We hear regularly that aluminum wiring has been recalled and that it is no longer approved or permitted in homes—neither of these is true. Aluminum wiring is permitted with the appropriate installation methods and materials. Electrical wiring in homes has traditionally been copper since the introduction of electricity in homes in the late 19th century.

Aluminum wiring was introduced to homes in North America in the mids. The price of copper was very high, and aluminum was a cost-effective alternative. Was aluminum as good as copper?