Aluminum To Copper Lug

Mike Finley

Aluminum to copper lug

Max Voltage: 300V
Wire Range: Min. #18 / Max. #10
Temperature Rating: 105C
Flammability Rating: V-2
UL Listed to U.S. and Canadian requirements
For splices with: Aluminum to Copper, Aluminum to Aluminum and Copper to Copper


Almost $3.00 apiece

What do you guys think?

mdshunk

Very nice option that has been available for maybe a year or so only. The AMP CopAlum crimp system is the finest choice, but the connector pictured is the best choice available to most people, in my opinion.

Be advised that the old solid aluminium is SOOOOooo brittle. You need to take extra care skinning it, because any little knick in the conductor will cause the conductor to shear off if it is bent there. Take care when dressing old aluminium conductors back into the box when using this connector, so that you don't snap it off.

Mike Finley

I remember you telling me about that system about a year ago, I couldn't find an electrician in our area who used it, nor even knew about it, they all just used the purple wire nuts and lubricant.

macmikeman

The price of $3 a pop is worth the price for the simple angle of liability coverage. As far as what system works the best, I have my own thoughts. I end up doing a pretty good number of aluminum remodel jobs, and try to replace with copper whenever possible. When I remove the old copper to alum splices done with old scotchlocks and a bit of no alox, I have yet to see a single problem once come up on jobs that it was obviously the original electrician who did the splice, but find boatloads of problem splices where somebody adds something to the original and does a piss poor job of connecting the conductors. This has lead me to the conclusion that the entire alum to copper issue is a load of ____. The real problem is HOMEOWNERS connecting alum to copper. Or copper to copper. They need to come up with a fancy connector for that.

jbelectric777

they make the wirenut type that are a lot cheaper, 3 bucks a pop is a little high figuring min 3 per opening and 5 openings (or more) per room, but they look like they would be great to work with.....

Glasshousebltr

If I'm not mistaken, that's exactly what caused the oxygen cylinder to explode on Apollo 13.

__________________
Bob

mickeyco

And appliance installers, etc., I've seen several of the purple wire nuts that have been over heated or burnt.

You can get a free sample of the AlumiConn connectors on their website:

http://list-manage.com/subscribe.phtml?id=e5e7bb3395
http://www.kinginnovation.com/catalogrequest.asp

The only potential problem I see, would be box fill or maybe needing to re-torque them occasionally, time will tell.

jbelectric777

like mickey said , box fill could be a problem, but i dont think you would have to count them as "conductors" but still , packin a box that tight is a bit__.....

JohnJ0906

I think if I used one (or more) of these, I would use a torque screwdriver to make sure it's tight, but not too tight.

__________________
John from Baltimore
"One Day at a Time"
All replies based on the 2008 NEC

mdshunk

Probably a fine idea. Torque is soooo critical to smaller aluminium, and the phenomenon of "cold flow" very real and shows up more on the smaller gauges.

itsunclebill

I've been using these things a while and like them. I think they wind up taking less room in the box than purple wire nuts on account of being able to lay the wires out inline and flat. The purple wire nuts are more expensive if you figure that on a feed through box you need 6 because they are limited to 1 copper and 1 aluminum each (2 grounds, 2 neutrals, 2 hots -each pigtailed). Also, they are cheaper in big lots (500 or so) from the distributers than the small quantities at the big box places.


One of the things that really bothers me about these connectors is that there are two methods for for installation in the directions. One, which maintains the UL listing of the item, requires the use of a torque screwdriver. The other, which is a manufacturer's alternate method of installation, is basically a "guess" as to the tightness of the connector screws - - AND, the connector is NOT listed when used this way. So, torqued, it's UL approved. Not torqued, it's not. Just more ways for a DIY to get into trouble IMHO. Be kinda nice if they came in 2 and 4 position as well.

As to the purple wire nuts, I've seen several burned up, but all of them were used for connections not permitted in the installations, that is, they had more than 1 copper and/or 1 aluminum wire, and not put on tight, etc., etc.

Celtic

Where did you get that info that a puple could only be used on 2 wires???

I have documentation on the contrary:
http://www.idealindustries.com/pdf/Combinations.pdf

Scroll on down to page 5, midway, on right:
2 #12 AL sol. w/1 #12 CU

That's 3 wires

Where did you get the 2 wire limit info???

mdshunk

Somebody posted a couple of weeks ago (I forget on what site) that there was a packaging change on the 65's. Among other things, the packaging change now says that they're only for a temporary repair. I haven't read this for myself, however. I wonder if at one time the packaging said something different about the number of conductors?

Celtic

I think we need a little more than "...some guy posted some unverifiable info on a web forum somewhere..."

mdshunk

hang on, I'm digging....

Celtic

I know you are LOL

Do you rememeber the thread Pierre and I had about this(other site has a link...water tank)?

mdshunk

Okay, here's the 2005 instructions:

Item ID: 30-265
Name: Twister® Al/Cu (Box of 100)

Features: Aluminum-to-Copper connector provides a secure connection while preventing aluminum corrosion
Specially formulated corrosion-resistant compound provides cooler connections and increased conductivity
Accepts 1 #12 Al sol. w/ 1 #18 Cu AWG min. - 1 #10 Cu AWG max
Swept-wing design for comfort

Live-action, square-wire spring
Hexagonal shape for standard nutdriver
No pre-twisting required
UL Listed and CSA Certified
Shell rated for 105° C
Flame-retardant shell

Celtic

It would seem odd to me that Ideal would change the packaging insert to a lesser level (temp. "repair" only) w/o changing the Compliance Verification Document (dated 10/18/00) on their site which does state:

mdshunk

Lucky for me, I almost never run into aluminium branch circuits. Very, very darned few homes in my area were ever wired with AL. When I run into AL, it's normally an old mobile home.

itsunclebill

Well, I gotta fess up that the info about 2 wires was right off a package - almost exactly what MD posted. I haven't bought any in a year or so, and haven't been to the site and looked at info on 65s in a long time

Anyway, they used to be rated for 1 copper and 1 aluminum, and more of either seemed to be problematic.

However, 'cordin' to the rules it's the instructions packed with the stuff that counts, so mine are only good for 2 wires either way.