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Home > Archive > Home Repair forum > April 2006 > Installing Lighting in an Aluminum Wired house
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Installing Lighting in an Aluminum Wired house
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| stevendchapman@gmail.com 2006-04-19, 8:21 pm |
| I am putting in some new lighting in my house, which is Aluminum Wired.
Are there special precautions I need to take here? I know I need
special outlets and switches when putting them in for Aluminum Wiring
but dunno if lighting is any different. The new ceiling fan I bought,
for example, says to make sure I wire in accordance with ANSI/NFPA 70,
but does not say anything special about Aluminum Wiring. Any ideas?
Thanks.
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| PipeDown 2006-04-19, 8:21 pm |
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<stevendchapman@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1145485550.102252.239140@t31g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
>I am putting in some new lighting in my house, which is Aluminum Wired.
> Are there special precautions I need to take here? I know I need
> special outlets and switches when putting them in for Aluminum Wiring
> but dunno if lighting is any different. The new ceiling fan I bought,
> for example, says to make sure I wire in accordance with ANSI/NFPA 70,
> but does not say anything special about Aluminum Wiring. Any ideas?
>
> Thanks.
>
Lighting is usually spliced into the power using a wire nut which is not the
issue with Al. If the fixture used a screw terminal, then it needs to be
Cu/Al rated. You may want to use antioxidant paste in the nuts
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| j_racicot@hotmail.com 2006-04-19, 8:21 pm |
| You need to sure that the wire nuts are suitable for AL/CU wiring.
Aside from that nothing special. I don't know what prices are like in
your area, but plugs and switches here for aluminum are ridiculous, but
you can splice in new copper only switches and plugs using a copper
pigtail and above menteioned wire nuts. I've redone the entire house
this way on advice of relatives who are electricians and things are
better now, no need to run around the house annually tightening loose
connections and much less risk of fire.
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| gfretwell@aol.com 2006-04-20, 3:21 am |
| On 19 Apr 2006 15:38:29 -0700, j_racicot@hotmail.com wrote:
>You need to sure that the wire nuts are suitable for AL/CU wiring.
The only one I have ever seen that Cu/Al is the Ideal 65 purple
wirenut. Some folks still hate them but they are U?L listed. Used for
a single ceiling light they should be OK. Not a lot of load there.
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| stevendchapman@gmail.com wrote:
> I am putting in some new lighting in my house, which is Aluminum Wired.
> Are there special precautions I need to take here? I know I need
> special outlets and switches when putting them in for Aluminum Wiring
> but dunno if lighting is any different. The new ceiling fan I bought,
> for example, says to make sure I wire in accordance with ANSI/NFPA 70,
> but does not say anything special about Aluminum Wiring. Any ideas?
>
> Thanks.
>
ANSI/NFPA 70 is the National Electrical Code.
The best information I have seen on aluminum wire is at
http://www.inspect-ny.com/aluminum/alreduce.htm
This is a "paper" writen by a professional engineer, based on extensive
testing of aluminum connections for the Consumer Product Safety
Commission and gives a wide range of fixes for aluminum wiring. It is
the only advice I am aware of based on actual research. Note
particularly the advice to apply antioxide paste to the wire and then
abrade it for most connections. Very specific on how to make wire nut
connections and what brands.
Far as I know only one wirenut - Ideal #65 - has been UL listed for use
with aluminum wires since the "new technology" about 1972. It appears to
be a standard wirenut with antioxide paste in it. The research for the
CPSC indicated this wirenut is no more reliable that other wirenuts used
with antioxide paste. The "paper" specifically does not like these wire
nuts because both the antioxide paste and the plastic shell of the
wirenut will burn. Specific brands are recommended in the "paper".
bud--
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| j_racicot@hotmail.com 2006-04-20, 2:21 pm |
| Here is Canada, Thomas & Betts distributes Marrette ACS # 63 and #65
which are approved for aluminum to aluminum, aluminum to copper and
copper to copper connections. Check out the info at
http://www.tnb-canada.com/en/catalo..._marrcat_e.pdf.
I've always used these and never had any problems. I guess you could
also used the anti-oxide paste, but this seems easier. Plus, they
carry them at HD which is around the corner from my place (I feel like
I own a significant part of the place now).
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| j_racicot@hotmail.com wrote:
> Here is Canada, Thomas & Betts distributes Marrette ACS # 63 and #65
> which are approved for aluminum to aluminum, aluminum to copper and
> copper to copper connections. Check out the info at
> http://www.tnb-canada.com/en/catalo..._marrcat_e.pdf.
>
> I've always used these and never had any problems. I guess you could
> also used the anti-oxide paste, but this seems easier. Plus, they
> carry them at HD which is around the corner from my place (I feel like
> I own a significant part of the place now).
>
Mu understanding of the research is that what is done before applying
the wire nut is more important that the brand of the wire nut.
bud--
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