Aluminum Wire

[Mike AA]

Originally Posted by MikeDubreuil

Can anyone provide anything in the manual that explicitly mandates the use of copper wiring? If this is the rule it should be made clear in a team update.

While use of aluminum would not be dangerouse, it is not exactly cost effective. With aluminum wire you would have to go to atleast the next size wire, as aluminum doesn't conduct as well or carry current as well as copper. Also, you would need to use de-ox on EVERY copper connection so as to prevent oxidation. You would likly save very little by using aluminum wire, if you can even find it in the required sizes.

Coming from an electrician I am telling you do not use aluminum. Use copper. As to it being cause of fire, this is partially true. Older homes had/have aluminum wire as it was cheaper, problem is if recepticles and switches weren't rated for it, this would cause problems. Aluminum devices are still available but much more expensive. Many services serving houses and some businesses use aluminum for the service conductors, 100% safe and being its only 10-30 feet there isn't worry about it being larger as the NEC hase code for this.

-Mike Aalderink