Electric Contractor Explains Why Aluminum Wiring Is Dangerous

Ask any electric contractor about aluminum wiring and chances are they will shudder and originate shaking their head; they know unbiased how hazardous it is. In fact, according to the Consumer Product and Safety Commission, electrical wiring that uses aluminum is 55 times more likely to fabricate a fire hazard than wiring that uses copper. Those most at risk are homes, especially mobile homes, built between the 1960s and the 1970s. So why is aluminum wiring so unsafe?
Thermal Expansion and Contraction
First, aluminum wiring expands and contracts at a different rate than other electrical wiring. An electrical unusual creates a change in temperature, and the heavier the load or the smaller the wire, the greater the change will be. If the aluminum heats up too worthy, it will expand to the point of pushing the contact away and creating a gap when it cools. As a result, the electricity is forced to jump, or arc, to continue the path. These arcs can near 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit, creating a serious fire hazard.



