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How do you ground a metal box with larger gauges?

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mike93lx

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bluedog225

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Is that aluminum. Looks like it. I’ve wondered about alu with copper ground wires. Why doesn’t that cause the same type issues we see with copper wiring in houses? i.e. corrosion and loss of continuity.

Maybe because grounding lugs are not exposed to AC?

I ask because I picked up a box full of aluminum lugs at Restore but have been hesitant to use them.
 

sparky 1971

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sparky 1971

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Is that aluminum. Looks like it. I’ve wondered about alu with copper ground wires. Why doesn’t that cause the same type issues we see with copper wiring in houses? i.e. corrosion and loss of continuity.

Maybe because grounding lugs are not exposed to AC?

I ask because I picked up a box full of aluminum lugs at Restore but have been hesitant to use them.
Pretty much all lugs are aluminum.
 

Bad Habit

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The lugs are a different alloy than whats used for wire. Much more stable for corrosion and thermal characteristics. All lugs should have markings for what type of wire they are rated for. Have never seen an aluminum lug not rated for CU wire (UL/ETL listed ones at least)
 

Norcal

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Is that aluminum. Looks like it. I’ve wondered about alu with copper ground wires. Why doesn’t that cause the same type issues we see with copper wiring in houses? i.e. corrosion and loss of continuity.

Maybe because grounding lugs are not exposed to AC?

I ask because I picked up a box full of aluminum lugs at Restore but have been hesitant to use them.
There have been lugs made of aluminum but were copper conductors only. AL lugs are fine in most cases, I would not use one where it was exposed to the weather but that is a rare situation.
 

Gozo

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Is that aluminum. Looks like it. I’ve wondered about alu with copper ground wires. Why doesn’t that cause the same type issues we see with copper wiring in houses? i.e. corrosion and loss of continuity.
When ever I’ve had that concern, I’ve put a bit of Noalox in with the wires. I think it’s more of peace of mind thing than anything else. My CH breaker panel has aluminum ground buss bars with bare copper wiring; 50 years, not a bit of corrosion. Then again, it’s in a 100% dry environment.
 

wyliesdiesels

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When ever I’ve had that concern, I’ve put a bit of Noalox in with the wires. I think it’s more of peace of mind thing than anything else. My CH breaker panel has aluminum ground buss bars with bare copper wiring; 50 years, not a bit of corrosion. Then again, it’s in a 100% dry environment.
is the ground bar an add-on? CH panels typically come with copper busbars
 

Gozo

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There are 2 types of Cutler Hammer breakers.
The CH has silver plated copper busbars.
The BR has aluminum.
Which type do you have?
I had to go check. It’s the CH. and I thought they were aluminum all this time. Learn something new everyday on GJ.
I still have a bottle of Noalox in the garage. Used it on appliance grounding lugs over the years. Probably more mental and insurance than anything else.
 
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wyliesdiesels

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There are 2 types of Cutler Hammer breakers.
The CH has silver plated copper busbars.
The BR has aluminum.
Which type do you have?
nope not quite. Cutler hammer is no longer around as they were bought by eaton. So there isnt 2 types of CH breakers. Theres 2 types of EATON breakers- Eaton CH and Eaton BR

The BR breaker line was formerly made by BRYANT before eaton took them over.
 
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enochian

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mike93lx

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So the 2 wires go into the 2 holes right?

No wire nut right?
Your EGC lands there, then you run it out to the receptacle. The connection to the box comes with it screwed to the ground hole.

We still don't know what wire size or type you are dealing with, though. That bar is not what I would use if a nut would suffice
 

Doozer75

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The lugs are a different alloy than whats used for wire. Much more stable for corrosion and thermal characteristics. All lugs should have markings for what type of wire they are rated for. Have never seen an aluminum lug not rated for CU wire (UL/ETL listed ones at least)
Not a different alloy.
The connection lugs are silver plated to prevent dissimilar metals corrosion.
The silver is very thin, but that is the difference.
Wire is just aluminum.
Lugs and buss connections are plated.
Silver is also used on switch contacts.
The reason for this is,
the oxide form of silver is nearly the same
conductivity as pure silver.
As we know from copper turning green,
this is very not true for copper.


-Doozer
 

PCustoms

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Man the misinformation in this thread is off the charts.

And we still don't know wtf the OP is trying to bond....
 
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enochian

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Man the misinformation in this thread is off the charts.

And we still don't know wtf the OP is trying to bond....


2 different projects with stranded aluminum wire.

1. In-wall oven with some kind of obscure legacy SEU cable

2. Hardwired drop-in stovetop.
 
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