» Need Electrical Help? Ask the Electrician
Electrical rewiring aluminum wire
click image to enlarge
 |
By Dave Rongey
Summary: Electrical Rewiring Question: I'm working on electrical rewiring of a remodel and I have found the wiring in this home to be a mixture of aluminum and copper. © By: Dave Rongey |
Electrical Rewiring: Electrical rewiring aluminum wire
Electrical Rewiring Question:
I'm working on electrical rewiring of a remodel and I have found the wiring in this home to be a mixture of aluminum and copper.The guy was pretty slick because he has used several methods to get the result he wanted. some are very scary and i do not want to duplicate them-even if i could. for example he has used the ground wire to pull current to accomodate a switch/outlet in a single gang bow using 3 wire cable.
His switches are confusing to say the least, help me here if you will. Two switches in a double gang for two lights. here he is using the white netural line for power.
One cable of three wires going up the wall for the fixtures. He is pulling power from the outlet just below the switch. all in alumunum. This is old school and must be illeagle, so how do i go about trouble shooting and making this up-to-date.
I can not leave this for my customer to deal with at a later date, like I said it all works but I do not feel good about the safety of this work. be-it-all-said, this guy must have really been on the top of his game in his day.
Could you send any help in the forms of books.
Thanks, TimHi Tim - Great Electrical Repair Question!
Tim, I'm not sure where New River is, however I know that you cannot use aluminum wire for smaller circuits here in California, but it is still used for larger 220 volt range circuits etc.
As for the remodel wiring that you are working on - If it was my job I would strongly recommend that all the questionable wiring be totally removed and rewire from scratch.
In the long run it will actually take less time, and time is money. Make a good plan of what the customer wants to have installed, remove the old wiring and start fresh installing according to code.
Don't forget to install smoke detectors and GFCI outlets where they are needed.
Take care!
The Safest Way to Test Electrical Devices and Identify Electric Wires!The Non-Contact Electrical TesterThis is a testing tool that I have had in my personal electrical tool pouch for years, and is the first test tool I grab to help identify electrical wiring. It is a Non-contact tester that I use to easily Detect Voltage in Cables, Cords, Circuit Breakers, Lighting Fixtures, Switches, Outlets and Wires. Simply insert the end of the tester into an outlet, lamp socket, or hold the end of the tester against the wire you wish to test. Very handy and easy to use.
The Quickest Way to Check for Faulty Electrical Wiring!The Plug-In Outlet TesterThis is the first tool I grab to troubleshoot a problem with outlet circuit wiring. This popular tester is also used by most inspectors to test for power and check the polarity of circuit wiring. It detects probable improper wiring conditions in standard 110-125 VAC outlets Provides 6 probable wiring conditions that are quick and easy to read for ultimate efficiency Lights indicate if wiring is correct and indicator light chart is included Tests standard 3-wire outlets UL Listed Light indicates if wiring is incorrect Very handy and easy to use.
Strip Off Wire Insulation without Nicking and Damaging the Electric Wire!The Wire Stripper and Wire CutterMy absolute favorite wire stripping tool that I have had in my personal electrical tool pouch for years, and this is the tool I use to safely strip electrical wires. This handy tool has multiple uses: The wire gauges are shown on the side of the tool so you know which slot to use for stripping insulation. The end of the tool can be used to grip and bend wire which is handy for attaching wire onto the screw terminals of switches and outlets.. The wire stripper will work on both solid and stranded wire. This tool is Very Handy and Easy to Use. |
||
Residential Electrical Parts and AccessoriesLight Switches 120volt Outlets Circuit Breakers Electrician Tools Voltage Testers |
