aluminum wire connections

[earlybirds]

I will be running #2 XHHW aluminum wiring from house main panel to shop subpanel lugs. Do I need to use the Noalox anti-corrosion compound on clean properly torqued lug connections that are rated for copper or aluminum wiring?

 

[walrus]

I will be running #2 XHHW aluminum wiring from house main panel to shop subpanel lugs. Do I need to use the Noalox anti-corrosion compound on clean properly torqued lug connections that are rated for copper or aluminum wiring?

Up to wire manufacturer.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

depends on what the wire manufacturer says, as said above

 

[grounded-b]

Using Noalox is not required, unless the manufacturer specs it. But, it is never a bad idea. Sometimes it will even keep the screw threads in the lug from seizing, and preventing a tight connection.

 

[sberry]

I dab the screws with it. No matter what they say a dry squeaking seizing screw isnt good. All the panel screws are like that these days, I whiz down the N bar with a little WD type spray too.

 

[Bert_]

I dab the screws with it. No matter what they say a dry squeaking seizing screw isnt good. All the panel screws are like that these days, I whiz down the N bar with a little WD type spray too.

I do the same thing, lube the threads.

Careful though, now this thread might blow up with people arguing about how it affects torque

 

[alfredeneuman]

I dab the screws with it. No matter what they say a dry squeaking seizing screw isnt good.

 

[Norcal]

I do lube the threads also but do worry about how it does affect the torque, but nobody likes seized threads either.

 

[Bert_]

I do lube the threads also but do worry about how it does affect the torque, but nobody likes seized threads either.

I don't worry a bit about the torque. If it starts to gall then the wire won't be tight even if you reached the torque value.

I've had more than one gall on me.

 

[nadogail]

Aluminum wire was touted as a great substitute for Copper, now houses wired with Aluminum branch circuits, IMHO, are disasters waiting to happen.

 

[Norcal]

Aluminum wire was touted as a great substitute for Copper, now houses wired with Aluminum branch circuits, IMHO, are disasters waiting to happen.

It’s been close to 50 years since AL branch circuits were used and the later AL alloy does not have the same problems that the 1960’s AL does.

 

[alfredeneuman]

Aluminum wire was touted as a great substitute for Copper, now houses wired with Aluminum branch circuits, IMHO, are disasters waiting to happen.

Solid aluminum wires #10 and 12 are no longer made (just stranded with a minimum size of #8) and like Norcal said it's a completely different alloy. In the past it was the same alloy that the PoCos used, which was too hard, brittle, and stiff for use in buildings.

 

[Negen]

On of my houses has aluminum wires. 15 amp circuits but anything with a 10-12 amp draw for more than an hour will start melting the aluminium. Not sure how these wires were ever legal. In my opinion any metal that carries an electrical load should not liquefy before it's rated load capacity or even within 10-20% +/- of max rated load.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Aluminum wire was touted as a great substitute for Copper, now houses wired with Aluminum branch circuits, IMHO, are disasters waiting to happen.

One of my houses has aluminum wires. 15 amp circuits but anything with a 10-12 amp draw for more than an hour will start melting the aluminium. Not sure how these wires were ever legal. In my opinion any metal that carries an electrical load should not liquefy before it's rated load capacity or even within 10-20% +/- of max rated load.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using The Garage Journal mobile app

the aluminum alloy wire of yesteryear is not the same used today

http://www.southwire.ca/en/commercial/aluminum-building-wire-40-years-later.htm

 

[75gmck25]

I think some of you are talking about #2 XHHW AL and AL branch circuit wiring like its the same thing.

AL SER is used by everyone today, including the POCO feed to the panel. Problems in the 60's and 70's with AL branch wiring are not relevant.

Bruce

 

[Norcal]

I think some of you are talking about #2 XHHW AL and AL branch circuit wiring like its the same thing.

AL SER is used by everyone today, including the POCO feed to the panel. Problems in the 60's and 70's with AL branch wiring are not relevant.

Bruce

By the early 1970's the AL was replaced with aluminum alloy.

 

[alfredeneuman]

.
AL SER is used by everyone today, including the POCO feed to the panel.

I've never seen a POCO feed use SER cable. It has a ground, which is unnecessary. SE and SEU cables, yes.