I refuse to be intimidated by aluminum wiring alarmists.

[Robb]

I mean, c'mon. It's metal, right? Metal can't burn. :D

The "fixer" guy wanted thousands of dollars. Maybe I can find me a spool 'a copper wire and just rewire my whole house. I mean, how tough can it be? You pull wire, you attach wire, you get your wife to knock you away from things with a 2x4...

I'm thinkin' with all the copper theft I should be able to find me a nice "fell off a truck" price on wire. :D

[DarkTirade]

1. That's right. And don't let ANYONE dissuade you.

They may try to confuse you with 'logic' and 'reason', but they're not your REAL friends.

[hobbit709]

2. The problem with aluminum wire is the heat coefficient.

After a while the wires work loose where they're screwed in on fixtures, sockets, etc. from expanding and contracting with the heat generated. Basically, if once a year you go around tightening every electrical connection in the house you're fairly safe.

[Robb]

3. Well, how hard can that be?

Loctite? :D

[hobbit709]

6. EVERYTHING from the breaker panel on down

Tedious and time consuming. Every outlet, every light switch.

[conscious evolution]

9. Very good advice.

Also put a little anti-oxidant on connections.
If you have receptacles and switches with stab in connections replace them with ones that have screw down terminals.
Follow these and hobbits advice and your wiring will stay safe.

[TroglodyteScholar]

4. You're really not at a lot of risk...

...as long as you have switches and outlets that are rated for aluminum wiring (CO/ALR). Much cheaper than trying to rewire your house (even with stolen copper)

[LeftyMom]

5. My Dad's house has that.

It's the most lethal, bloodthirsty intentionally malicious bit of wires since HAL. Our handyman calls his wife and tells her he loves her before he touches it, because it's shocked him so many times. Seriesly.

[Redstone]

7. Excuse me, "metal can't burn?" Never fired up any magnesium in high-school science class,

have you?

Galvanic corrosion of dissimilar metals is REAL, whether you like it or not. And if you don't believe me, maybe you'll believe this: http://www.engineersedge.com/galvanic_capatability.htm

No way in hell I'd ever buy a house with aluminum wiring. If you have one, I'd advise you to invest big time in property insurance.

Redstone

[Robb]

10. Surely

...I jest. :D <---(jesting smiley)

At one point I had a whole roll of magnesium strip. It was a lot of fun, let me tell you.

The good news is the crawlspace is comfy enough to work in. The bad news is I can't squeeze into the walls. On the plus side, my sheetrock repair work is the stuff of legend.

[two gun sid]

8. Robb, don't be a dingbat...

Al is dangerous if not installed properly. When bare Al oxidizes the resulting Aluminum Oxide is a semi-conductor and when current tries to pass through it it will heat up and cause fires. The bare Al wire must be treated with No-Ox to keep it from oxidizing. That means every connection and joint. Al wire is real brittle and over tightening a joint or connection will probably cause it to break. Every device in your house must be rated for copper/Aluminum connections and listed for that purpose. In a lot of states you can't get house insurance with Al wiring.

[Digit]

11. I have aluminum wiring and never have to tighten it

You don't feel heat at the outlets, either, and I have been in this house 12 years.
Then again, I had a friend who had aluminum wiring it she was always having to tweak it.

My home is older than hers was, but I don't know if that accounts for the difference.

Heck, this is an upgrade from my old home which had cloth covered wiring with only one outlet in every room.

I have good insurance.....