In the late sixties, and early seventies aluminum wiring began to be used because most available copper was going to the Vietnam war effort. However, aluminum wiring is not ideal for small home electrical systems.  The electrical devices at that time were not designed to handle the high temperature coefficients of aluminum wiring. Aluminum wires can also expand in diameter and length as they get hot, they can actually back out the screw terminals, causing a loose connection. This, in turn, can cause heat, which can ultimately lead to a fire.

After problems with aluminum wire termination became known—including one notable house fire—the UL (Underwriters Laboratories) and other agencies adopted new safety regulations and put more restrictive standards in place. However, many homes from the 60s and 70s still do not have safe aluminum wiring terminations. But there are a number of ways to solve this problem without having to rewire a home.

Consumer Safety Council Recommendations

According to the Consumer Safety Council, there are only two approved methods that splice aluminum wire to copper wire:

These standards have caused acceptance problems with home inspectors and insurance companies, which has led to homeowners paying 2 to 4  times as much as they should to have their aluminum wiring terminated.

If improperly installed, aluminum wiring can raise the risk of a house fires! From 1960’s up to the mid 1970’s aluminum wiring was sometimes used for branch circuit wiring instead of copper wiring.  During this time period copper prices were very high and aluminum wiring became a cost effect alternative to copper wiring.  Was aluminum wiring found to be as good as copper wiring?  Not even close!  Aluminum wiring quickly became a fire risk if not installed properly.  At the time aluminum wiring methods were exactly the same for copper.  Over time it was found that improper installation methods and electrical devices not designed to accept aluminum conductors could lead to fires.

If was quickly found out that aluminum wiring could cause flickering lights, hot electrical connections and even burned or melted insulation on the wiring.  There was a severe problem with overheating which can lead to fires.

1.  A Softer Metal.  Aluminum is a much softer metal when compared to copper.  During the stripping process from aluminum it can be easy to nick.  These nicks can cause hot spots in the conductor causing overheating and the potential risk of fire.  Electricians had to develop different methods of stripping the insulation off of the aluminum wiring to avoid damaging the conductor.

2.  Aluminum Expands.  When an appliance demands electricity on the circuit the conductor heats up.  While this process takes place with copper conductors too aluminum expands at a much greater rate than copper.  This expansion and contraction of the aluminum wiring  caused the the conductor to creep out from under the terminal screws on breakers and electrical devices such as plugs and switches.  This creeping of the wiring resulted in a loose connection which lead to sparking and potential fire.

3.  Corrosion or Rust.   When steel rust it becomes red, on copper rust is green, and on aluminum it is white.  When copper wiring rust it’s not as big as problem when compared to aluminum, copper rust is actually electrically conductive.  This rust on copper still allows the electricity to flow and doesn’t create as much resistance of the electricity or simplify put it doesn’t interfere as much.  However, when aluminum rust it forms a white oxide which is not a good conductor of electricity.  This creates resistance or reduces the flow of electricity.  This resistance interferes with he flow of electricity, and can cause overheating leading to fires.

There are several options for you if you have aluminum wiring in your home.  We can evaluate your homes wiring and come up with several effective methods and affordable price ranges.  It’s important to have your homes wiring thoroughly evaluated so you can know the truth about its condition so you can make the proper decision.

Solution 1.  Rewire the entire house with copper wiring.  This would be the safest long term solution for aluminum wiring.  This method would require reduced maintenance and reduced inspections needed when compared to aluminum wiring.  Rewiring the home is the safest long term solution to aluminum wiring when compared to other methods.  This solution can be expensive when compared to other solutions.  However, we have a variety of financing options and payment plans available for almost every budget.

Solution 2.  Check all connections in home and repair as needed.  Then re device the entire home with aluminum rated devices.  This short this method entails replacing all the homes plugs and switches with ones that are designed to accept aluminum conductors.  It’s important to note aluminum rated devices can be hard to find at the big box stores.  When these devices were first introduced they simply had a larger screw or terminal for the aluminum conductor to fit under.  Unfortunately, these CU/AL devices failed to work good enough and was not an effective solution.  New devices CO/ALR are created out of a similar metal which shares a similar expansion and contraction rate as aluminum which reduces the creeping of the conductor.

Solution 3.  Pigtailing.  Pigtailing simply means taking the aluminum wire connections that go to the device and splice on or pigtail on a copper conductor to go to the device such as a plug or a switch.  It is important to note that it does take a specially designed wire nut or twist-on wire connectors to to perform this method.  While this method is the cheapest it is important to make sure that routine safety checks and inspections are performed on your homes wiring to reduce the chances of future problems.

Even with all the disadvantages, aluminum wiring still has its advantages under certain applications.  It’s important to note even with these advantages you should not use aluminum wiring in your home for standard 15 or 20 amp branch circuits.

1.  It’s Light Weight.  Aluminum is lightweight in nature.  Being lightweight is an advantage when conductors are used over long distances.  This lightweight property is most beneficial for aerial applications were the aluminum wiring is suspended between poles.  This wiring method is most commonly seen in utility company applications and telecommunication lines.  Being light weight also makes the aluminum wiring easier for the installer to work with.  This makes the cable less physically demanding to install.

2.  Aluminum Wiring is Cheaper.  Aluminum wiring can be half the cost of copper wiring.  When a large amount of wiring is needed saving half the cost can be a huge benefit over copper wiring.  This method is mainly seen in feeder circuit applications in commercial buildings as well as sub panels and 220 circuits in residential applications.  It’s important to note this practice of using aluminum wiring for sub panels, services, and 220 circuits in residential applications has been deemed acceptable when properly installed and connected.

If you're ready to take the plunge and purchase a state-of-the-art home theater system, you have more to consider than just the equipment you intend to purchase. Even if all of your components are top-of-the-line, you won't get the most bang for your buck without professional design and installation.

To make sure you get the home theater of your dreams, it's important to consult an electrician early on in the process. A quick electrical inspection of your desired theater space will help you understand what kinds of electrical upgrades you might need to set up a media center that is functional, safe and that provides the highest quality viewing experience.

Handle the Load

A big-screen TV by itself won't strain the electrical system in a modern home. But factor in a disc player, set top box, stereo receiver and multiple speakers, and you might be talking about a serious electrical load. A licensed electrician can easily test your system to ensure it's ready to power your dream theater. If upgrades are necessary, you can take confidence that new wiring or circuits will be installed by a qualified professional.

Hide the Cords

Wireless speakers and other multimedia components might seem like an attractive option because you want a streamlined look, but you'll often sacrifice a great deal of quality by cutting the cord. Instead, let an electrician make a plan for hiding all of your home theater's power cords away so that the room looks great and there's no risk of tripping in a darkened room. Without tearing up your decor, a professional installer can run cables within your walls and install new outlets to avoid that snarl of wires.

Protect Your Investment

You probably already use a surge protector to safeguard your home computer against the threat of power surges. But your home theater equipment is just as vulnerable, and a single lightning strike can turn thousands of dollars in equipment into trash. While you can protect your home entertainment technology using surge protection adapters, the best solution is to install a whole-home surge protection system. There's no need for clunky power strips, and your entire home's electronics and appliances will be safeguarded.

Unless you have extensive electrical experience, don't go it alone when setting up your home theater. Make sure your design is smart, safe and spectacular by enlisting the talents of a licensed local electrician.

Electrical safety testing is an important part of any Electrician’s job. It should be done periodically—by a professional and to a very high standard.

An Electrician will undertake an inspection to ensure there are no deficiencies in an electrical installation. Over time, an electrical product will deteriorate. Age, wear and tear, environmental factors, poor maintenance, and improper use can all cause electrical products to malfunction and stop working. When this happens, it is the Electrician’s responsibility to ensure the product is repaired as soon as possible. If this is not possible, then the product should be not be used. Faulty electrical products are very dangerous and can cause injury or death if not handled with care.

Maintaining Safety at All Times

A periodic inspection of all portable electrical appliances will reduce the risk of them malfunctioning in the future. An inspection is an ideal opportunity to check for any signs of electrical equipment being overloaded, to locate any potential electrical shock risks, and to highlight any defective work. It should only ever be done by professionals who understand what they are doing.

Although portable appliance testing is not compulsory for companies within the United States, those that have periodic inspections find it brings them peace of mind. Appliance testing is done in many military and science installations in throughout the country.