Aluminum Wire Repair by Copper Pigtailing: Instructions and Illustrations InspectAPedia® -
Details of repair procedure for aluminum wiring
US CPSC meeting documents aluminum wire twist-on connector failures and repair procedures
Which aluminum wire repair methods work well?
Which aluminum wire repair methods do not work well?
Recommendations for aluminum to copper wire connectors and copper wire pigtailing procedure for aluminum wire repairs
Aluminum Wiring Repair Procedure - Page 1 Color photos and descriptive captions from CPSC Meeting 9/28/95.
In this document aluminum wire twist-on connector failures and repair procedures are described,
including aluminum wire repair methods which work and methods which do not work and are unsafe.
Color photos of aluminum wire repair procedures, and photos of failed connectors are included.
This document describes hazards with existing products, explains the aluminum wiring failure mechanism,
and reviews recommended retrofit procedures including use of readily-available materials.
This information was presented to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission by Dr. J. Aronstein, 9/28/95.
The minutes of that meeting were obtained under the Freedom of Information Act and posted by Daniel Friedman January 1996.
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1. Commonly used instruction for pigtailing using twist-on connector. This instruction has been widely published and distributed by UL, by trade journals and instruction books, and in the
National Electric Code Handbook. Since about 1985, until now, no twist-on connectors were listed by UL for this purpose.
2. Prior to 1985 most twist on connectors on the market were listed by UL as suitable for the purpose. The actual performance in this application varied widely, however, depending on the
construction and installation method.
3. The pigtailing application works this way. A short copper wire is spliced to the aluminum circuit wire. The copper wire is connected to the device terminal. The pigtail splices carry full
circuit current to downstream loads. With the best connector and method of installation, this could be a safe technique.
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How to Reduce the Risk in Buildings with Aluminum Electrical Wiring - Overview of Acceptable Repair Practices (in the document you are presently viewing)
Aluminum Electrical Repair Method Details - "How to" details, how to identify, COPALUM repair, alternative repairs, history, products, research, source of special AMP TYCO COPALUM connectors & COPALUM Electricians (in the document you are presently viewing)
COPALUM Electricians: Sources of TYCO COPALUM -Certified/Trained Aluminum Wire Repair Services (in the document you are presently viewing)
Other Products, Ideal 65 Purple Twister (not recommended), & other Aluminum Wire Products/Articles (in the document you are presently viewing)
Reducing the Fire Hazards in Aluminum-Wired Homes, Jess Aronstein, Ph.D., This document answers most technical questions about the hazards and remedies of aluminum electrical wiring. Some of the sections of this very thorough document are listed below:
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