Guys, 1/2 my home is done with alum wiring, why only 1/2 I dont know, guess that's all they had on the truck. Just the #12 and #14 wires. I know they make some receps for alum wire, but I want to use the "decor" receps. Do they make a kit for making some sort of connection to regular receps, like a splice kit or something (alum to copper).

Guys, 1/2 my home is done with alum wiring, why only 1/2 I dont know, guess that's all they had on the truck. Just the #12 and #14 wires. I know they make some receps for alum wire, but I want to use the "decor" receps. Do they make a kit for making some sort of connection to regular receps, like a splice kit or something (alum to copper).

I just saw a show on HGTV about that. What they did to make it pass code was at the receps they attached a copper lead to the alum wire then to the switches or outlets and they had purple wire nuts put on. As soon as the guy seen the purple wire nuts he checked the whole house then. I have never seen purple wire nuts before. It was a short lead they put on about 3 or inches. There are a few electricians on the board they will chime in im sure. FYI

not cheap...
http://www.aikencolon.com/Aluminum-to-Copper-Wire-Nuts_c_653.html

david

I only have aluminum wire for my oven and range. I had to use wire nuts with special gel in them to make the connections th the copper "tails" at both appliances. I just looked on yahoo for copper to aluminum wire connections and I am now a bit concerned!!!:eek:

Thanks guys, I heard about the wire nuts w/the compound in them. Went to Home Depot, and they had them. 5.00 for 2, not cheap, but cheaper than a fire!

thanks!

Ideal makes a product that I used a 100 times. Just cant remember the name. Now I'll be thinking about it all night. I think they stopped using alum in homes in 1974. maybe your house was built then.

Just remembered. NO-LOX. Its a paste to put on the alum and copper wire.

I used to live in a housing tract that was built with aluminum wiring.
There were an unusual number of electrical fires in that tract, our house included.

We used No-lox at mom and dads with regular wire nuts never had a problem since. The stuff is messy - kinda like moly paste for a cam- gets on everything and doesn't wipe off. we found it after some wires cooked themselves and had to be replaced. that was 15-20 yrs ago havn't had a problem since. We rubbed some on to the wires and squirted some into the wire nuts then made the connection.

My home was built in '69-70. Just weird how 1/2 the home has copper, other half alum. Havent had any issues yet, but I went through all the receps and changed them, all my connections are real tight. Maybe the issue with alum. is the not-so-tight connections/splices tend to heat-up moreso. I do think the "problem" with alum wire is a bit overstated...figure your service entry conducters are alum, and the grounding and neutral bars are alum w/alum screws, which connect copper. Heck, I think breakers have alum. connections also??? My disclamer though....I do go into the electrical panel from time to time, and go through all the screws to make sure they are tight. Some move, some dont.