🚀 go-pugleaf

Jay Mullis <u3l@ornl.gov> wrote:

>Jay Mullis wrote:
>>
>> Recently, I purchased 2 ceiling fans and light fixtures for my home.  When I started
>> to install the fans and fixtures, I realised that they had aluminum wiring (18-20
>> ga).  Since I know that aluminum wiring can be troublesome :), I was wondering if
>> anyone had any suggestions for connecting it to my house wiring (12 ga copper).  I
>> have found some special wirenuts made for CO/AL connections by IDEAL, are these good
>> enough or am I going to burn my house down.  Taking the fans and fixtures back is
>> not an option (They are "Oh, so stylish" and my wife just "Loves them" :)). I also
>> have to make a couple of AL/AL connections, any suggestions for that?
>>
>> Sorry, if I've posted to the wrong groups but they were as close to on topic that I
>> could find.  If I need to post somewhere else, just give me a pointer.
>>
>> Thanks in advance.
>>
>> Jay Mullis
>> U3L@ORNL.GOV

>screwed up the original post to the newgroups.

>Jay Mullis
>U3L@ORNL.GOV


Jay,

The AL to CU connections could cause you problems, due to expansion and oxidation, but
there is a solution. If you coat the conections with a cream(different brands on the
market) prior to putting on the wire nut, or other connecting means, this cream will
prevent the oxidation, which creates poor conduction, and then heat. No-lox is one such
brand, if I spelled it correctly. :-)

Lynn
///////////////////////////////\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
Lynn Bradford                     Engineering Technician
Thomson Consumer Electronics      Marion, IN

"In order to succeed, you must know what you are doing, like what
you are doing and believe in what you are doing."
                                               Will Rogers

Jay Mullis wrote:
>
> Jay Mullis wrote:
> >
> > Recently, I purchased 2 ceiling fans and light fixtures for my home.  When I started
> > to install the fans and fixtures, I realised that they had aluminum wiring (18-20
> > ga).  Since I know that aluminum wiring can be troublesome :), I was wondering if
> > anyone had any suggestions for connecting it to my house wiring (12 ga copper).  I
> > have found some special wirenuts made for CO/AL connections by IDEAL, are these good
> > enough or am I going to burn my house down.  Taking the fans and fixtures back is
> > not an option (They are "Oh, so stylish" and my wife just "Loves them" :)). I also
> > have to make a couple of AL/AL connections, any suggestions for that?
> >
> > Sorry, if I've posted to the wrong groups but they were as close to on topic that I
> > could find.  If I need to post somewhere else, just give me a pointer.
> >
> > Thanks in advance.
> >
> > Jay Mullis
> > U3L@ORNL.GOV
>
> screwed up the original post to the newgroups.
>
> Jay Mullis
> U3L@ORNL.GOV



I don't think you have aluminum wiring in the fans as it wasn't
manufactured in the guages you describe. The wire may be silver in color
as it is an copper tinned alloy commonly used in fixture wiring.

David Reilly wrote:
>
> Jay Mullis wrote:
> >
> > Jay Mullis wrote:
> > >
> > > Recently, I purchased 2 ceiling fans and light fixtures for my home.  When I started
> > > to install the fans and fixtures, I realised that they had aluminum wiring (18-20
> > > ga).  Since I know that aluminum wiring can be troublesome :), I was wondering if
> > > anyone had any suggestions for connecting it to my house wiring (12 ga copper).  I
> > > have found some special wirenuts made for CO/AL connections by IDEAL, are these good
> > > enough or am I going to burn my house down.  Taking the fans and fixtures back is
> > > not an option (They are "Oh, so stylish" and my wife just "Loves them" :)). I also
> > > have to make a couple of AL/AL connections, any suggestions for that?
> > >
> > > Sorry, if I've posted to the wrong groups but they were as close to on topic that I
> > > could find.  If I need to post somewhere else, just give me a pointer.
> > >
> > > Thanks in advance.
> > >
> > > Jay Mullis
> > > U3L@ORNL.GOV
> >
> > screwed up the original post to the newgroups.
> >
> > Jay Mullis
> > U3L@ORNL.GOV
>
> I don't think you have aluminum wiring in the fans as it wasn't
> manufactured in the guages you describe. The wire may be silver in color
> as it is an copper tinned alloy commonly used in fixture wiring.

The wire is silver in color no matter how far I strip in back and is
silver throughout it cross-section therefore it was not tinned in the
method I am used to seeing.  But if it is an alloy then that would make
sense.  How could I tell?

Thanks for the reply

Jay Mullis
U3L@ORNL.GOV

The Cu/Al wire nut is the only way to connect the two conductors.  If
your really worried and for peace of mind...Fill the nut with Alox which
can be purchased in a small tube..mabe 2-3 oz.  This is a oxidation
inhibitor.

BTW, the aluminum conductor will probably be what is called new
technology aluminum which is treated...Otherwise...live with it.

Jay Mullis <u3l@ornl.gov> wrote:
>Jay Mullis wrote:
>>
>> Recently, I purchased 2 ceiling fans and light fixtures for my home.  When I started
>> to install the fans and fixtures, I realised that they had aluminum wiring (18-20
>> ga).  Since I know that aluminum wiring can be troublesome :), I was wondering if
>> anyone had any suggestions for connecting it to my house wiring (12 ga copper).  I
>> have found some special wirenuts made for CO/AL connections by IDEAL, are these good
>> enough or am I going to burn my house down.  Taking the fans and fixtures back is
>> not an option (They are "Oh, so stylish" and my wife just "Loves them" :)). I also
>> have to make a couple of AL/AL connections, any suggestions for that?
>>
>> Sorry, if I've posted to the wrong groups but they were as close to on topic that I
>> could find.  If I need to post somewhere else, just give me a pointer.
>>
>> Thanks in advance.
>>
>> Jay Mullis
>> U3L@ORNL.GOV
>
>screwed up the original post to the newgroups.
>
>Jay Mullis
>U3L@ORNL.GOV

If you just bought the fixtures, I can't believe they are aluminum
wiring.  Maybe tinned copper?  Fixtures for the consumer market haven't
used aluminum since the sixties due to the special handling needed during
wiring.

Steve Brown wrote:
>
> Jay Mullis <u3l@ornl.gov> wrote:
> >Jay Mullis wrote:
> >>
> >> Recently, I purchased 2 ceiling fans and light fixtures for my home.  When I started
> >> to install the fans and fixtures, I realised that they had aluminum wiring (18-20
> >> ga).  Since I know that aluminum wiring can be troublesome :), I was wondering if
> >> anyone had any suggestions for connecting it to my house wiring (12 ga copper).  I
> >> have found some special wirenuts made for CO/AL connections by IDEAL, are these good
> >> enough or am I going to burn my house down.  Taking the fans and fixtures back is
> >> not an option (They are "Oh, so stylish" and my wife just "Loves them" :)). I also
> >> have to make a couple of AL/AL connections, any suggestions for that?
> >>
> >> Sorry, if I've posted to the wrong groups but they were as close to on topic that I
> >> could find.  If I need to post somewhere else, just give me a pointer.
> >>
> >> Thanks in advance.
> >>
> >> Jay Mullis
> >> U3L@ORNL.GOV
> >
> >screwed up the original post to the newgroups.
> >
> >Jay Mullis
> >U3L@ORNL.GOV
>
> If you just bought the fixtures, I can't believe they are aluminum
> wiring.  Maybe tinned copper?  Fixtures for the consumer market haven't
> used aluminum since the sixties due to the special handling needed during
> wiring.

The wire is silver in color throughout its legnth (or at least about 2
feet that I cut off the ceiling fans) and of uniform color throughout its
cross-section.  The tips of the wire are not "tinned" with solder, if
thats what you mean.

Jay

In article <31ADBC6A.484@ornl.gov> Jay Mullis <u3l@ornl.gov> writes:

>   > I don't think you have aluminum wiring in the fans as it wasn't
>   > manufactured in the guages you describe. The wire may be silver in color
>   > as it is an copper tinned alloy commonly used in fixture wiring.

>   The wire is silver in color no matter how far I strip in back and is
>   silver throughout it cross-section therefore it was not tinned in the
>   method I am used to seeing.  But if it is an alloy then that would make
>   sense.  How could I tell?

Aluminum wire is very light in weight and flexible compared to copper.
Use a file or sandpaper on the cut end, don't just look based on the
results of cutting.  I bet it is copper inside and plated or tinned.

I, too, would be surprised to find aluminum wire inside a fixture.

--- sam

Jay Mullis <u3l@ornl.gov> wrote:
>Steve Brown wrote:
>>
>> Jay Mullis <u3l@ornl.gov> wrote:
>> >Jay Mullis wrote:
>> >>
>> >> Recently, I purchased 2 ceiling fans and light fixtures for my home.  When I started
>> >> to install the fans and fixtures, I realised that they had aluminum wiring (18-20
>> >> ga).  Since I know that aluminum wiring can be troublesome :), I was wondering if
>> >> anyone had any suggestions for connecting it to my house wiring (12 ga copper).  I
>> >> have found some special wirenuts made for CO/AL connections by IDEAL, are these good
>> >> enough or am I going to burn my house down.  Taking the fans and fixtures back is
>> >> not an option (They are "Oh, so stylish" and my wife just "Loves them" :)). I also
>> >> have to make a couple of AL/AL connections, any suggestions for that?
>> >>
>> >> Sorry, if I've posted to the wrong groups but they were as close to on topic that I
>> >> could find.  If I need to post somewhere else, just give me a pointer.
>> >>
>> >> Thanks in advance.
>> >>
>> >> Jay Mullis
>> >> U3L@ORNL.GOV
>> >
>> >screwed up the original post to the newgroups.
>> >
>> >Jay Mullis
>> >U3L@ORNL.GOV
>>
>> If you just bought the fixtures, I can't believe they are aluminum
>> wiring.  Maybe tinned copper?  Fixtures for the consumer market haven't
>> used aluminum since the sixties due to the special handling needed during
>> wiring.
>
>The wire is silver in color throughout its legnth (or at least about 2
>feet that I cut off the ceiling fans) and of uniform color throughout its
>cross-section.  The tips of the wire are not "tinned" with solder, if
>thats what you mean.
>
>Jay

Tinned copper is usually electroplated with tin before the insulation is
applied -- I'm surprised you didn't see any change across the diameter in
color, but then again it is small and copper looks pretty white until it
oxidizes -- try to solder-tin the end of the wire -- if it's really
aluminum you won't see any wetting at all, if it's tin plated copper, it
will wet really fast.

Why don't you just ask the retailer where you bought the fittings? Or
if they can't help, call the manufacturer. If they're expensive
fittings, you could reasonably expect a better service than from a
cheaper brand.

Jay Mullis <u3l@ornl.gov> wrote:


>> Recently, I purchased 2 ceiling fans and light fixtures for my home.  When I started
>> to install the fans and fixtures, I realised that they had aluminum wiring (18-20
>> ga).  Since I know that aluminum wiring can be troublesome :), I was wondering if
>> anyone had any suggestions for connecting it to my house wiring (12 ga copper).  I
>> have found some special wirenuts made for CO/AL connections by IDEAL, are these good
>> enough or am I going to burn my house down.  Taking the fans and fixtures back is
>> not an option (They are "Oh, so stylish" and my wife just "Loves them" :)). I also
>> have to make a couple of AL/AL connections, any suggestions for that?
>>

>> U3L@ORNL.GOV

Probably the fan wiring is tinned copper, not aluminum at all.  The
National Electric Code has banned aluminum wire in sizes smaller than
#6 years ago, and manufacturers stopped making small sizes in
aluminum.  Any standard wire nut should do the trick.

Tinned copper, BTW, is a process of coating the copper conductor with
solder.  It locks the wire strands together, and enhances
conductivity.

With all this conjuecture about what the stuff is, why not ask the
retailer and if they can't help - call the manufacturer!

Despite this possible means to resolution, the discussion is quite
interesting.