Houses with aluminum wiring

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My House has aluminum wiring throughout. Will "dirty power", surges or unsteady power cause more trouble than copper would experience.

Thanks

Michael Roe

-- Anonymous, February 26, 1999

Answers

The problem with aluminum wiring is that the aluminum oxidizes (rusts), and you start getting "arcing" (sparks) where the wire is screwed or otherwise held in place, as the electrical current passes through the layer of oxidation. If the arcing gets bad enough, you get fire.

Personally, I don't think Y2K problems will make the problem any worse.

-- Anonymous, February 27, 1999


Aluminum wire is soft and tends to expand and contract causing loose connections which causes heat and destroys the insulation. Special devices and connectors with a UL listing for use with aluminum wire are avalible. A home with aluminum wire thoughout is more likely to have electrical problems, but not from dirty power or surges.

-- Anonymous, February 27, 1999

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