greyboy39 Posted November 11, 2015 Report Posted November 11, 2015 Hello, I came across this aluminum wiring labeled Alcan AA-8000 AL type SE style R today in a home with a panel that was updated to 200 amp in 1998. From what i found online 8, 10, and 12 gauage wire with the AA-8000 designation is allowed, but i couldn't clarify as to why. Is this indeed allowed and if so can you clarify as to why? Thanks in advance! Click to Enlarge 47.09 KB Click to Enlarge 40.53 KB Click to Enlarge 39.24 KB
Jim Port Posted November 11, 2015 Report Posted November 11, 2015 SE-R is a recognized cable type. Why do you think it would not be allowed? If I can read the jacket it says #6 which is stranded.
greyboy39 Posted November 11, 2015 Author Report Posted November 11, 2015 Nope this is #8 and it is a solid conductor. The configuration is a two pole 20 amp breaker for the A/C.
Jim Katen Posted November 12, 2015 Report Posted November 12, 2015 Hello, I came across this aluminum wiring labeled Alcan AA-8000 AL type SE style R today in a home with a panel that was updated to 200 amp in 1998. From what i found online 8, 10, and 12 gauage wire with the AA-8000 designation is allowed, but i couldn't clarify as to why. Is this indeed allowed and if so can you clarify as to why? Thanks in advance!. . . The AA8000 series of alloys have proven to be pretty good performers. I find the #8 SE solid-conductor cable used quite often in my area and I can't recall every seeing a problem associated with it. While #10 and #12 might be allowed in theory, I can't recall having ever seen or heard of any in the wild since the 1970s. What, exactly, is the question?
Marc Posted November 12, 2015 Report Posted November 12, 2015 What Jim said. The AA-8000 series are later formulations that resolved the issues with the initial aluminum wiring products of the late 60's, early 70's. They're still in use today, though not so much in residential, I guess because of the stigma. Marc
greyboy39 Posted November 12, 2015 Author Report Posted November 12, 2015 The question was, is this solid conductor aluminum ok for the installation it was used for. I never see the stuff its always stranded if aluminum. Thanks for the answers!
Neal Lewis Posted November 12, 2015 Report Posted November 12, 2015 What is the size of the breaker? Seems like a large gauge to be held down properly by that pressure plate type terminal.
Jim Katen Posted November 12, 2015 Report Posted November 12, 2015 The question was, is this solid conductor aluminum ok for the installation it was used for. I never see the stuff its always stranded if aluminum. Thanks for the answers! Sure. Solid aluminum #8 is fine these days for any lug or connection that's appropriate for aluminum. The one place where you should be careful is at electric water heaters. Every one that I've seen has copper pigtails in the wiring box and you shouldn't run aluminum wires into that box. There's usually a warning printed right there on the water heater. So if this cable - or even stranded aluminum cable - runs to a water heater, it should stop in a wiring box and transition to copper before going into the water heater. The transition to copper should, of course, be done with connectors listed for aluminum and copper in combination. Split bolts are usually the most common type.
Jim Katen Posted November 12, 2015 Report Posted November 12, 2015 What is the size of the breaker? Seems like a large gauge to be held down properly by that pressure plate type terminal. Most of those lugs are listed for #14 through #8.
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