aluminum to copper wire splicing - Electrician Talk - Professional Electrical Contractors Forum

partimer31 · 09-03-2009, 11:21 AM

Is anyone working with aluminum romex cable inside homes.

If so, what are you currently using, for your wire splices.

Please provide details in how you go about making splices and connections, to switches and receptacles.

THANKS

mcclary's electrical · 09-03-2009, 12:11 PM

I just finished a full remodel that had alot of aluminum wire. You have two options. Buy devices rated for al. or make pigtails with approved wirenut ($5.00 for two) In those house, I did both. I found devices rated for fairly cheap, and used about 30 of those wirenuts total. (some places I had to make joints)

Black4Truck · 09-03-2009, 01:17 PM

I just finished a pig tail job that was partially done by a hack

He cut the wires short and luckily I decided to use Ideal Purples for splicing.

If I had gone with just the devices, the wires would of been a nightmare to get around the terminals

Purples are only rated for AL/CU connections

According to manufacture not allowed for AL/AL, but I used them for it because better than a standard wire nut

partimer31 · 09-03-2009, 02:38 PM

mcclary's electrical and black4truck

Thanks for your recent post.

I have a some follow up questions, for the two of you.

Did you both used the purple Idea 65 Twist-On?

And was this your your first job, involving aluminum romex cable?

THANKS

NolaTigaBait · 09-03-2009, 02:46 PM

Yeah, I also use the purple ideal wirenuts. I've done several. Those things are way over-priced.

Shado · 09-03-2009, 02:47 PM

When doing this upgrade, do you disturb any of the existing splices? Such as neutrals, etc.., what then?

busymnky · 09-03-2009, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Black4Truck

I just finished a pig tail job that was partially done by a hack

He cut the wires short and luckily I decided to use Ideal Purples for splicing.

If I had gone with just the devices, the wires would of been a nightmare to get around the terminals

Purples are only rated for AL/CU connections

According to manufacture not allowed for AL/AL, but I used them for it because better than a standard wire nut

I don't understand your thinking. How can something that is "not allowed" be a better option, in any circumstance? When the fire marshall finishes his investigation he will say you used the wrong wire nuts.

mcclary's electrical · 09-03-2009, 04:30 PM

I've done several remodels that had aluminum. Don't worry about "disturbing" anything. As long as you've got worenuts approved, you're fine. Just be really careful when stripping. DO NOT knick the condutor with strippers. Al. is much more delicate than copper. If it's knicked, when you put on wirenut it wil break and you may not notice it. of course, don't disturb anything you don't have to.

220/221 · 09-03-2009, 04:36 PM

I use regular wire nuts in most cases. I personally don't believe that the wirenuts are the issue. If they were, why don't all the millions of splices fail?

I pull apart AL on a regular basis and generally don't see any issues if it was installed properly.

The issues I see are where someone has changed out the switches/receps with copper devices and where the wire was ringed during stripping and snapped off after it was bent back into the box.

If it's a specific whole house pigtail job, I will reluctantly submit to the scam/hype/liabilty scare and use purple nuts.

mcclary's electrical · 09-03-2009, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 220/221

I use regular wire nuts in most cases. I personally don't believe that the wirenuts are the issue. If they were, why don't all the millions of splices fail?

I pull apart AL on a regular basis and generally don't see any issues if it was installed properly.

The issues I see are where someone has changed out the switches/receps with copper devices and where the wire was ringed during stripping and snapped off after it was bent back into the box.

If it's a specific whole house pigtail job, I will reluctantly submit to the scam/hype/liabilty scare and use purple nuts.

I'm with you!,,,,it's just a wirenut with no-ox inside, however,I think it's got a less aggressive thread pitch, to prevent stripping the soft al. When we're talking about liability, and not to mention the inspectors around here look closely, I ALWAYS use the right wire nut.

Black4Truck · 09-03-2009, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by busymnky

I don't understand your thinking. How can something that is "not allowed" be a better option, in any circumstance? When the fire marshall finishes his investigation he will say you used the wrong wire nuts.

What would you do if it was your house??

They don't make a wire nut that is UL approved for AL/AL splices

My choices are either leave a 40 year old wire nut on the neutrals in a switch or use a Purple

I don't think that adding a copper element to an AL splice has any mystical powers to make it "approved"

I am also adding arc fault breakers to all circuits mandated in the NEC

Jim Port · 09-03-2009, 07:53 PM

For those that don't like the Ideal purples.

http://www.kinginnovation.com/produc...cts/alumiconn/

They call for a torque screwdriver, but do list an alternate method.

InPhase277 · 09-03-2009, 09:27 PM

I generally make a big pile of aluminum wire on the floor as I'm installing new copper romex. That's how I splice aluminum.

partimer31 · 09-04-2009, 10:40 AM

To you guys out there working with aluminum romex, thank you , for submitting your posts.

Here is a link you may want to take a look. To those who do look at it, I welcome all feed back, positive
and negative.

http://www.inspect-ny.com/aluminum/alreduce.pdf

mikheil · 09-07-2009, 09:48 PM

Ok to use regular nuts for Al splicing in the basis that not all the millions of splices out in the field have failed???

Come on... isn't this forum supposed to be for 'professionals'??

partimer31 · 09-07-2009, 09:58 PM

delected due to computer operator error

partimer31 · 09-07-2009, 09:59 PM

I like this guy. I like where he's going.

mcclary's electrical · 09-08-2009, 08:30 AM

I thought it was for professionals, but there's a few hacks on here too

not mentioning any names

Black4Truck · 09-08-2009, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcclary's electrical

I thought it was for professionals, but there's a few hacks on here too

not mentioning any names

We always name names.. no fun otherwise

Bob Badger · 09-08-2009, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Black4Truck

What would you do if it was your house??

They don't make a wire nut that is UL approved for AL/AL splices

It strikes me that there must be a reason no one is selling overpriced AL to AL wirenuts. If they could make a safe one I am sure they would be available.

Just something to think about.