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This page contains photo-documented reports of actual in-service aluminum wiring failures in homes. I have been receiving reports from home owners, builders, and building professionals since 1990. However this page was created in July 2004, so it will not contain all of the historical data.

Recent reports, photographs, anecdotes will be displayed here. When I complete statistical analysis of prior reports I'll add that data at this page. Readers should also see the Aluminum Wiring Website home page. © Copyright 2010 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use links at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

Aluminum Wiring Overheating Reports with failure photographs

240V Heat Pump Circuit - Aluminum Wiring Failure Case

Whoever wired the previous unit must have had some Al wire around but not quite enough to reach the unit, so they used a junction box to connect Al and Cu wire. Fortunately, the so-called technicians used a steel box otherwise the house could have burned down. This was the only aluminum wiring I have found thus far but I'm not done inspecting yet."-- J.F. 6/30/2004 DF-note: see also this lab photograph of an overheating twist-on connector to show the overheat mechanism in the case above

Ideal-65 "Twister" Burnup in Field Use - Aluminum Wiring Failure Case Photos

Electrical Panel Overheat - Aluminum Wiring Failure Case Photos

Electrical Receptacle Burnup - Aluminum Wiring Failure Case Photos

Copper to Aluminum Pigtail Overheat - in Electric Panel, including infra-red Case Photos

Contributor - Gordon Cohen: These thermal imaging photos of overheating aluminum splices and circuit breakers with aluminum wiring are courtesy of Gordon Cohen, June 2006. Mr. Gordon offers home inspections and thermal imaging services in Florida and is also employed by ServiceMaster as a project manager. Email: Infraredinspections@cfl.rr.com

Twist-on connector overheating cases - Forensic Engineer Reports

• Aronstein reports and provides these additional examples of aluminum wiring field failures.
  

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More Information - Detection, Repair, Advice for Aluminum Wiring in Buildings

The Aluminum Wiring Information Website Aluminum Wiring Hazards and Repairs: in-depth info, photos, documents.

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Use this simple, economical mold test kit by following our instructions on how to collect and mail mold samples to our lab

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