Fixing aluminum wire in your home
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 ก.ย. 2024
- Splicing on copper to aluminum using a wire nut that is rated for both copper and aluminum. Showing the splice and the panel, which parts are, and are not rated for aluminum in your home.
In my area there are tons of neighborhoods and houses with aluminum wire. I replaced most of the outlets and switches years ago with CO/ALR devices and have never had an issue. As far as pigtailing in some situations, I just pigtail a piece of copper with the aluminum, add antioxidant paste to a wire nut, secure with the nut and wrap with electrical tape. That serves the same function as using the purple wire nuts. I've had zero issues in 20 years.
I found Home Depot now sells Aluminum rated receptacles and switches. I go around and check the screws on mine once every 2 years haven't found anything lose.
Good that you are on top of it
They have sold those devices for at least the last 20 years.
I know these pigtails are "supposed" be allowed with Aluminum pigtails, however from my research looking into this as a homeowner of a house with these wires... This connection isn't recommended. The "preferred" connection is a overly priced Wire Connector called AlumiConn . These suckers are expensive, but proven to work long term so long you torque them down correctly. I'm in the process of pigtailing all my connections using this expensive thing and a torque screw driver from Amazon.
Hey Chris, I tried to use google to see what your problem might be with this type of install, this is the first article I read:
www.wirechiefelectric.com/aluminum-wiring-pigtails-know
This type of install is completely safe and up to code here in Canada under the CEC. Please feel free to send us any articles your reading from as our minds are always open to new ideas.
@@Luminelectric ohh okay, in my state, insurance companies prefer the overpriced aluminconns. It's ridiculously overpriced at almost $3.80 US just for 1 pigtail.
@@Mr-Chris totally, if it makes you feel better those merrets from the video are about $50 for 25. They are still very expensive. Good luck with fixing your wiring. It’s good that you are fixing it properly.
@@Luminelectric what's your opinion about ground? Do you think they actually need these type of pigtails?
We do the grounds as well. And if there is a federal panel we suggest a panel swap as they are notoriously not tripping
Good luck! If you have aluminum wiring like I do, you probably have small ass metal boxes. No way you are going to fit these pigtails in the box. I’m redoing mine while I remodel
Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
How old and brittle does wire casining on aluminum wiring need to be before its required to be changed completely? 🤔 found old aluminum two wires no ground crusty wire sheathing I cannot find in NEC this c*** has to be 50years old or more!
There is no code rule in the CEC our Canadian version of the NEC, usually things like that are left up the contractors discretion. Things can be grandfathered in for a long time. No grounds is bad, I would try to change itx
Too bad that we can't use Wagos for this.
Cant you just use co/alr outlets and switches?
I’ve never seen switch’s/ plugs that are rated aluminum but if they were you could do that way.
@@Luminelectric I replaced all of mine nearly 20 years ago with CO/ALR outlets and switches. They have been available in the US for at least that long from places like Lowe's and Home Depot.
If your breakers weren't rated for aluminum, would you have to pigtail in the panel also?
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a breaker not rated for AL/CU. But if it’s not you could splice it, making splices in the panel is not to code though, so you’d need special permission from your local inspector.
@@Luminelectric ok thank you!
Great video..what do you do in the panel..at what point do you pigtail?
before the box inside at the top, or before the breaker point?
In the panel I don’t think I’ve ever seen a breaker that’s not rated for aluminum, so your pig tailing your lights, switches and receptacles because they are not rated for an AL termination. You can check your breakers and they will say AL/CU on them which means it’s rated for both. Adding de-oxidation gel to your breaker termination is never a bad thing if your worried about your panel termination.
What about wiring on fans and ceiling lights?
Should still make those connections to the aluminum with rated Merrett’s
What about Wago 222 with wago’s 249-130 alu paste?
I don't believe the sell the paste any longer and you can't get the Wagos for aluminum here...I tried they are only approved in the UK and Canada and will not ship here.
@@craig156 I did "google" search and was able to buy the syringes with wago's 249-130 alu paste and wago 222 grey connectors. Their website has an article on its effectiveness, when combining aluminum and copper wires.