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I have a house with Aluminum wiring. Only the “convenience” outlets and lighting are aluminum. All of the big stuff like the fridge and kitchen outlets are copper. If the outlets and switches are replaced with the new CO/ALR outlets and switches and all the junctions re-done with the special wire nuts is that enough? I’m planning a renovation and I’m wondering if I should bite the bullet and re-wire the entire house. As you might imagine, that won’t be cheap, money that can be spent on other things.
By the way, not a single outlet, switch or junction that was re-done showed any sign of overheating.
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If it's Romex, pigtail it, or get an electrician with the special tool to pigtail it for you. That special crimping tool is absolutely necessary, and it has to be done right. If you can find a place that rents the tool, be sure they show you how. Replace it with new copper romex wherever the other work you're doing means opening things up enough that that becomes easy.
If it's conduit, use the old aluminum to pull in new copper. Copper #12 is only about $0.05/ft, so pulling it yourself will be cheaper than paying to have it pigtailed.
If you don't get it pigtailed or replace it, you'll have to be sure to get aluminum-rated switches and receptacles every time you replace anything in the future. As the brief era of aluminum wire fades further into the past, those will probably get more difficult and expensive to obtain.
-- J.S.
*Chuck,My advice is to rewire with copper. When you (or your heirs) sell the place, the aluminum wiring will be a real detractor from the home's value. I'm not saying that you'll recoup the cost of rewiring, but it sounds like it's now or never.If you decide to keep it, that's O.K. from a safety standpoint--if you use nothing but CO/ALR rated devices. For splices, as John mentioned there is only one Consumer Products Safety Commission-approved method--the Copalum splice system by AMP. Only specially trained electricians can buy the materials and tooling.Do NOT use the Ideal purple wirenuts that claim to be rated for Cu-Al splicing. It's been reported that those were never tested for that use. For a lot of good info on aluminum wiring, go to:http://www.inspect-ny.com/aluminum.htmBefore you decide what to do, I suggest that you get an estimate on what it'd cost to copalum splice copper pigtails onto the aluminum. It may be cheaper to rewire. Or, if you want to tackle it yourself, you could use the technique described in the website (Scotchlok wirenuts, anti-ox compound). That is, if the electrical boxes have the room for the additional splices. Having an electrician use the technique will be expensive--it's a time-consuming method. That is, if you can find an electrician who'll do it.Good luck.Cliff
*Chuck .. John hit the nail on the head you would be better off replacing it with #12 copper now it will save problems down the road.. GOOD LUCK....
*John and Cliff, A little confused here. Are the purple wire nuts suitable according to UL or not? John: a little more info on the crimping device and training if you have it?
*I may be wrong (it happens), but I believe in some areas if you are doing any major renovation, then the aluminum wiring has to come out.
*Out with the aluminum...for all the above reasons...near the stream,ajps...Don't put more money into a bad system...It will still be a bad system and the more splices in it and changes along with all of it continuously aging...oxidizing...smoke detectors needed in all rooms...arc sensing breakers...You could rewire for less and then no need to disclose your wiring system at your homes sale.
*Rewiring does not mean opening every wall in the house. A good electrician can get into places you wouldn't think was possible. You can take up sub-flooring under the carpet for example, to access ceiling wires. Some new drywall and pathing will still be needed but the new wiring is worth it.And #12 copper is only needed in some areas in the house. In others #14 is perfectly safe and adequate.
*Here is something Ideal dosn't mention about it's purple wire nuts. There is nothing special about them. (besides their cost) They have a semi liquid paste inside them, the same paste that you can buy to help keep batteries from corroding, and in tubes right next to where you buy the ideal wire nuts. If all were fair and right in the world the paste would do it's job and prevent any problems from happening where alu meets copper. But the only thing the paste really does is help the nuts slip off the pig tails when you push them back in the box. Your better off getting Alu rated switches and outlets. At least where I live (NC) you don't have to re wire.
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I have a house with Aluminum wiring. Only the "convenience" outlets and lighting are aluminum. All of the big stuff like the fridge and kitchen outlets are copper. If the outlets and switches are replaced with the new CO/ALR outlets and switches and all the junctions re-done with the special wire nuts is that enough? I'm planning a renovation and I'm wondering if I should bite the bullet and re-wire the entire house. As you might imagine, that won't be cheap, money that can be spent on other things.
By the way, not a single outlet, switch or junction that was re-done showed any sign of overheating.