![]() ![]() Then heat shrink is used over the splice to create an airtight connection. The connection is made with a special tool that applies over 10,000 pounds of force. Then the small piece of copper wire is connected to the device instead of the aluminum. The repair involves splicing the original solid aluminum wire into a piece of copper wire with a specially designed metal sleeve. COPALUM ConnectorsĬOPALUM connectors are also considered a permanent repair for aluminum wiring. The average cost to rewire a home is $2-$4 per square foot. This involves making numerous holes in the walls and is very expensive. However, a qualified electrician would need to remove all the wires in the house and pull new ones through. ![]() Full ReplacementĬomplete replacement of aluminum wiring is the ideal repair. In addition, they outlined pig tailing and CO/ALR devices as insufficient repairs. They concluded that full replacement and COPALUM connectors were the only ideal repairs and that alumiconn connectors were sufficient if the prior were not viable options. The CPSC tested many different kinds of aluminum wiring repairs. Modern aluminum wiring is code approved and safer than its predecessor. Keep in mind that a new home with aluminum wiring is not a concern. Homes built in the late 1960s and early 1970s may have aluminum wiring. There were no problems associated with multi-strand wiring. In regards to an older home, only solid wires are considered dangerous. In addition, the devices in the home must be listed for aluminum wiring connections. The National Electrical Code (NEC) allows aluminum wiring in a residential home as long as its AA-8000 series electrical grade aluminum alloy conductor material. Modern aluminum wiring is a different blend of alloys that addresses the shortcomings of the aluminum alloy from the early 70s. If you’re unsure, you can hire a licensed electrician or home inspector to evaluate the home. Most of the wiring has wire insulation, so look at the ends of the wire for shiny silver-like wire.Īdditionally, you can look inside outlets and junction boxes, but this is more difficult. With the cover off, you’ll be able to see all the wiring and discover if any of it is aluminum. The easiest way to know if you have aluminum wiring is to look inside the electrical panel. Likewise, electricians and building code officials began to realize the inferior and dangerous qualities of aluminum wiring. Banks paid $1.05 for 100 Pennies, stores required exact change, and the government imposed strict penalties for melting down the coins.Įventually, the price of copper dropped, and the great penny shortage ended. This resulted in a nationwide penny shortage. In fact, at the peak of copper prices, copper recovered from a melted penny would have netted 1.04 cents. They thought that, eventually, the copper in the penny would be worth more than the cost of the penny itself. ![]() Interestingly, in 1974 copper prices were rising so rapidly that people began to hoard pennies. Why Did Electricians Switch to Aluminum Wire over CopperĬopper prices continually rose in the late 1960s, and aluminum wiring became a cost-effective alternative. This corrosion leads to the deterioration of the electrical wire leading to poor connections, high electrical resistance, increased heat, and potential fires. Copper and brass are similar and not prone to galvanic corrosion, but aluminum is much different than copper and brass. The use of aluminum wiring created electrical connections prone to galvanic corrosion. At the time, most electrical devices, such as circuit breakers and outlets, were made with copper or brass contact points. Galvanic corrosion occurs as a result of two dissimilar metals touching. Loose electrical connections cause arcing, which can lead to electrical fires. This repeated expansion and contraction creates loose connections at terminal screws, pigtails, and other splices. As electricity flows through the wire, it heats up, expands, and then cools down and contracts when the circuit is off. The two main factors that make it more dangerous are expansion and galvanic corrosion.Īluminum wiring expands much more than copper wiring. However, every outlet, light fixture, junction box, and connection point is potentially dangerous. Why is Aluminum wiring Dangerous?Īluminum wiring itself is not dangerous. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that it is 55 times more likely to cause house fires than copper wiring. Unbeknownst to electricians at the time, aluminum wiring would later cause many fires and deaths. Aluminum wiring often refers to the single-strand solid wiring used in homes from the late 1960s through the 1970s. ![]()
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