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Is aluminum wiring in a house a major concern?

<< Back to: Electrical Wiring FAQ (Part 1 of 2)

Question by Al
Submitted on 1/10/2004
Related FAQ: Electrical Wiring FAQ (Part 1 of 2)
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Is aluminum wiring in a house a major concern?


Answer by Lincoln
Submitted on 1/12/2004
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Not just because it is aluminum. If the circuits are not overloaded. Never install a circuit breaker or fuse that is incorrectly sized. Any wires can become unsafe if the circuit protection isn't sized correctly.

Aluminum wiring had a problem with people "up grading fuses". More correctly they were creating an unsafe condition.

If you have great concern then have an inspection performed by an electrician.

 

Answer by jj
Submitted on 1/14/2004
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Aluminum wiring may not pass your local wiring codes.  The problem of thermal expansion and contraction tends to loosen connections at screw terminals.  This creates high resistance connections which can over-heat and/or cause sparking.  Both are serious fire hazards.  Check with a qualified electrical contractor or building inspector.

 

Answer by Bob
Submitted on 12/12/2004
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See NBSIR 83-2803 at NIST. This study done for CPSC showed that all elec problems leading to fires were caused by well known bad practices --not ever the material of wire. I cannot find any reliable source for all the theories about"creep" and current "fixes" including anti-oxidant pastes, etc. Proper electrical maintenance will be as safe with alum. as with copper. Bad practices will start fires with gold wiring.

 

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