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Roy Lewallen wrote:
Richard Clark wrote: Hi Roy, If I recall history and physics correctly (and simultaneously), house wiring failed through cold flow, a property of aluminum to relax under a one-time application of pressure (impulse rather than sustained pressure) and thus the joint failed. The failure raised resistance, resistance raised temperature, temperature raised flames.... no more common use of aluminum in house wiring. When I put in a new service entrance in 1979, it was after the problems with ordinary aluminum house wiring were discovered and it was no longer being used. But the service entrance cable I got was aluminum. The service box connectors are marked as approved for both aluminum and copper wiring, and have a compression fitting which doesn't give the aluminum anywhere to flow. Generous application of NoAlOx or a similar grease was also required for proper installation, so that's what I did. It's been completely trouble-free for nearly 30 years now. So it was, and is, possible to use aluminum wire. But it has to be done correctly, with due regard to its vagaries. Roy Lewallen, W7EL Roy; The problem with AL house wire is that the pure Al that the wire is made of will flow under pressure. When it was used with Cu wire switches and outlets the attachment points could not maintain the pressure to insure adequate contact. At work one day the personnel department secretary requested one of the company two way radios for her desk. I installed a Motorola HT220 in a desk charger and plugged it into the outlet next to her desk. That night the mobile home trailer that we used for personnel burnt to the ground. To this day I don't know if there was a connection. ;^)... However, the radio was a mess. The trailer was manufactured during the copper shortage that necessitated the use of Al wire. Dave Nagel WD9BDZ |
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