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POST a QUESTION or COMMENT about wire connector test standard UL 486 and the cause, nature, recognition, effects of aluminum wire connectors - special service types
Failures in twist-on connectors used for aluminum wiring repairs:
This article continues the discussion of the inadequacy of UL Standard 486C for twist on connectors
if used for splicing aluminum to copper wires and adds that certain "special service" connectors
sold for this purpose, such as the Purple twist-on connector shown do not perform well in this
application.
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Aluminum Wiring repairs using twist on connectors supported by UL486C & that Standard are Inadequate
This is the Aluminum Wiring Repair Procedure - Page 10 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 series describes hazards with existing aluminum wiring repair products, explains the aluminum wiring failure mechanism,
and reviews recommended retrofit procedures including use of readily-available materials.
This aluminum wiring safety 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.
30. That testing of the type applied by UL486C is inadequate has previously been demonstrated by the Canadian "Special Service" twist-on connector.
These were qualified by tests essentially the same
as UL486C, but performed poorly in long-term tests within rated conditions. This one is starting to overheat.
31. This special service connector splice has overheated to the point of softening the wire insulation.
32. This special service twist-on splice between aluminum wire and stranded copper wire burned up.
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[3] "Record of Commission Action, Commissioners Voting by Ballot", CPSC Publication No. 516, Repairing Aluminum Wiring (original version op.cit.), (Briefing package dated March 15, 2011), Quoting: The Commission voted unanimously (5-0)·to approve republication of CPSC Publication No. 516, Repairing Aluminum Wiring, with the explicit recognition that the COPALUM and AlumiConn connectors currently are the only products that meet the agency's standards to prevent aluminum wire fire hazards Copy on file as /aluminum/Pub516_Alumi_Conn.pdf
[4] Dr. Jess Aronstein, protune@aol.com is a research consultant and an electrical engineer in Schenectady, NY. Dr. Aronstein provides forensic engineering services and independent laboratory testing for various agencies. Dr. Aronstein has published widely on and has designed and conducted tests on aluminum wiring failures, Federal Pacific Stab-Lok electrical equipment, and numerous electrical products and hazards. See ALUMINUM WIRING BIBLIOGRAPHY and see FPE HAZARD ARTICLES, STUDIES for examples.
[5] "The Influence of Corrosion Inhibitor and Surface Abrasion on the Failure of Aluminum-Wired Twist-on Connections",
Aronstein, J.; Campbell, W.,
Components, Hybrids, and Manufacturing Technology, IEEE Transactions on
Volume 7, Issue 1, Mar 1984 Page(s): 20 - 24
[6] Thanks to reader Thomas Kremer
for suggesting clarification to this topic 08/09
[7] Personal communication, Email, P. King to D Friedman, 3/10/2012 [copy on file AlumiConn_PK120310.pdf].
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ALUMINUM WIRE REPAIR METHODS to reduce risk in buildings with Aluminum Electrical Wiring - Overview of Acceptable Repair Practices (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:
In addition to citations & references found in this article, see the research citations given at the end of the related articles found at our suggested
Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd., 120 Carlton Street Suite 407, Toronto ON M5A 4K2. Tel: (416) 964-9415 1-800-268-7070 Email: info@carsondunlop.com. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors.
Carson Dunlop Associates provides extensive home inspection education and report writing material. In gratitude we provide links to tsome Carson Dunlop Associates products and services.