Aluminum wire was utilized from the mid 1960’s to the last part of the 1970’s. It is uncommon to find aluminum wire in homes built after 1980. This sort of wire can likewise be found in homes that have had electrical overhauls or electrical work acted in the 1960’s and 1970’s. Aluminum wire can be recognized by its aluminum or silver tone. The best spot to decide whether this sort of electrical wiring exists is to check inside the electrical board box. Look where the electrical wires join to the breaker screws. Likewise take a gander at the electrical ground wires since they will be similar material as the hot wires. Patch covered wire likewise looks silver so be mindful so as not to confound the two. One is a potential fire danger and one isn’t.
Aluminum wiring will be named on the outside of the wire covering. Normally the words aluminum or Alum will be stepped on the outside wire sheathing. At times it is hard to find so the best strategy to decide whether alum wire exists is to glimpse inside the fundamental board box.
Aluminum wire was made as a more affordable option in contrast to conventional copper electrical wire. One downside at the hour of its presentation was that it is less effective in conveying electrical flow then customary copper wire. This issue was evaded by introducing bigger wire sizes to bring current through the new wire.
There are a few significant potential issues related with this sort wire connectors of electrical wire. The wire can get free from under its terminal screws and at repository associations because of development and withdrawal of the wire. This kind of wire is more powerless against overheating because of the capability of free associations both at the terminals inside the electrical board and at its associations with individual plugs. This kind of wire is likewise milder then copper wire, making it simpler to harm or crease. Harmed or creased wire can make heat develop and in the end lead to a fire. A significant part of the aluminum wire utilized was ineffectively produced and of unfortunate workmanship. Because of its capability to overheat there have been house fires that were straightforwardly credited to the sort of wire utilized in the home.
Because of the potential fire issues fabricates upgraded electrical connectors, switches, and containers to more readily oblige the extension and constriction of the wire. These recently planned switches and repositories were assigned by the word CUAL or CO/ALR. The CO/ALR assignment is ideal in light of the fact that these switches and repositories will generally be better designed to oblige the wire. Likewise the electrical board itself should be explicitly assigned for use with the wire.
The best and most secure way to deal with aluminum wire is to revamp the home. This is the main genuine strategy to hoist the gamble related with the wire. On the off chance that the wire is kept dynamic, one should ensure that every one of the electrical switches, boxes, board and associations are aluminum viable. In certain districts a remedial measure called pig-following might be executed. Pig following is the most common way of associating copper wire to the furthest limit of the aluminum wire. This isn’t suggested in light of the fact that it makes stuffing in board boxes, switches and electrical repositories. Stuffing has its own arrangement of issues like overheating. At the point when you have all the more then, at that point, expected electrical associations there is an expanded gamble of fire.
