What is the only approved repair to aluminum wire terminations?

According to the Consumer Safety Council, there are only two approved methods that splice aluminum wire to copper wire: COPALUM: A crimping method that can only be learned at a school in Oregon and requires a special crimper that can only be leased from a single manufacturer.

Do I need to replace aluminum wiring?

If your home still has aluminum wiring, it should be updated and replaced. Installed in homes built between 1965 and 1973, it’s prone to losing its shape and structure due to repeated temperature changes. If the wiring becomes structurally unstable, it can become a fire hazard.

What does the NEC say about aluminum wiring?

Today, the National Electrical Code® requires aluminum conductor alloys be at least an “AA-8000” series (section 310.14). These 8000-series alloys exhibit much greater terminal retention and have superior mechanical strength as compared to the “old technology” wire.

Is AlumiConn approved?

The following insurance companies accept all Consumer Product Safety Commission approved repairs, including the AlumiConn Aluminum to Copper Lug: Citizens Property Insurance. CNA.

How do you repair aluminum wiring?

2) COPALUM Method of Repair As an alternate to rewiring with copper, CPSC recommends attaching a short section of copper wire to the ends of the aluminum wire at connection points (a technique commonly referred to as “pig- tailing”), using a special connector named COPALUM to join the wires.

Is Pigtailing aluminum wiring safe?

CPSC staff considers pigtailing with a COPALUM con- nector to be a safe and permanent repair of the existing aluminum wiring. The repair should include every connection or splice involving aluminum wire in the home, in- cluding outlets, dimmers, switches, fixtures, appliances, and junction boxes.

How do you fix aluminum wiring in a house?

“Repairing” aluminum wiring means an electrician simply attaches a short section of copper cable to the end of the aluminum wire at every connection point in your home. This process is called “pigtailing.” With this process, copper cable, instead of aluminum, connects to electrical devices.

Is Pigtailing aluminum wiring up to code?

What is the general rule when replacing copper wire with aluminum wire?

Aluminum wire must be one wire gauge size larger for a given circuit than if copper was used. So while #14 copper wire is permitted on a 15-amp electrical circuit and since #14 copper wire branch circuits are common in homes, if aluminum wire was used for the same circuit it would have to be #12.

Is it safe to pigtail aluminum wiring?

Pigtailing aluminum wiring is safe as long as proper terminals and connections are made – without damaging the wire – and with materials approved by the Canadian Electrical Code. Aluminum wiring pigtails approved by the Electrical Safety Authority are the most common solution for making aluminum wiring safe.

Can aluminum wire be spliced?

A splice can be made between copper and aluminum wire using a wire connector that is approved for joining AL/CU wires together and following the approved methods: Only use wire connectors that are the correct size for the wires to be spliced. The wire connectors must be approved for splicing AL/CU wires.