Aluminum Gague

neolitic

When we stripped out the drywall
in a bathroom all of the wire we see is #12.
The bedroom boxes on the other side of the
wall are #12 as well. It's all aluminum.
Went to shut off the circuits we are working
around, the panel is piggy-back hell, and
all of the bedroom and bathroom breakers
are 20 amp. Were the original breakers
supposed to be 15's? Or are the 20's alright?
It's been a long time, but I thought aluminum
was #12 for 15amp, and I don't remember
20 amp circuits for bedrooms or
bathrooms back then.(1969)

Forgot:
House was built in 1969, I just want to know
if they have a problem there or if I just have
a bad memory for how this stuff went 40 years ago.

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neolitic

bump

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dkillianjr

I do believe that a 15 amp circuit requires a 12 gauge aluminum wire as apposed to a 14gauge copper. I can remember reading in the nec book that all 14 gauge aluminum wire must be replaced, I could be wrong though. The real electritians should be around shortly to confirm or deny that



Dave

jrclen

#12 Aluminum is rated for 20 amps. But it must be protected by no larger than a 15 amp breaker or fuse. So your memory is fine.

neolitic

Thanks, I'll start trying to line up
a sparky tonite.
I think half the breakers they have
will be over loaded when he
switches them back to 15's.
This is gonna get real interesting.

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Magnettica

NEC Article 240.4 (D)

(D) Small Conductors. Unless specifically permitted in
240.4(E) or 240.4(G), the overcurrent protection shall not
exceed 15 amperes for 14 AWG, 20 amperes for 12 AWG,
and 30 amperes for 10 AWG copper; or 15 amperes for
12 AWG and 25 amperes for 10 AWG aluminum and
copper-clad aluminum after any correction factors for
ambient temperature and number of conductors have
been applied.

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jrclen

That's exactly what my book says too Mag. We must have the same book.