On 4/3/2010 4:42 PM zxcvbob spake thus:

On 4/3/2010 8:23 PM, David Nebenzahl wrote:
So I finally saw my first aluminum wiring today.

Have heard about for years, of course, but this is the first time I'd
actually seen it in the wild. Working on an apt. complex built in the
late '70s; client asked me to wire the bath exhaust fan to the light
switch so the fan would come on with the light (bath walls were covered
with mildew, another of today's tasks of which was to remove).

Upon opening the box, I could see what at first looked like tinned
copper leads, but sure 'nuf, they were aluminum. So OK, clearly I wasn't
just going to put in a copper pigtail there and call it a day.

Thinking I had to buy some kind of special connector to attach the CU to
AL, I went to the local hardware store (Orchard Supply), where I was
shown a little tube of stuff from GB (Gardner Bender) called "Ox-Gard"
that you just schmear on the wires and connector to inhibit corrosion.
Cheap and a neat solution. (It's black. Looks kind of like roofing cement.)

So I actually learned something today.

The shmear stuff is just half of it; you also have to use special
connectors that are approved for both AL and CU (I forget the exact
marking) Look for Ideal purple wire nuts.

Interesting: the instructions for the goop just say to use it on all
wires and the connector, which I did. Isn't the metal inside regular
wire nuts steel or zinc, which should be compatible with both CU or AL?

If necessary I'll buy a "special" wire nut and replace it next time I go
back there.


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