Ive put in a bunch of Al services meaning from the meter to the homes main braker panel all the wire was aluminum.
Ive put in a bunch made of all copper too.
To my knowledge, all is well with each instance, regardless the metal choice.
Provided the gauge of the wire being used and its dialectric are appropriate, it will meet code and last very well.
Using Alumalube at the service panels and main breaker box to reduce corrosion and promote conductivity is about a must.
True too the overall size of wire will increase if aluminum, is in use instead of copper.
Also following some years of use, its a good idea to double check the lugs for tightness at the bus bars in each service panel. You musnt over tighten aluminum.
Both copper and aluminum are subject to loosening and corrosion.
Every metal exposed to the air is in fact susceptible to corrosion..
Ive never used Al as inside wiring. Only from the meter to the interior panel. Almost all industrail services use copper. Residential goes both ways, though again, usually not within the home. Inside its been all copper romex in my exp.
This was one major point of contention with the contractor in my new home and I should have stuck more to my guns then yet I doubt the outcome was as big a deal as I was making of it. I asked for copper service wire expressly. The sub contractor installed aluminum instead. Yet it was inspected and passed due to the facts all was appropriate as stated above, wire size and insulator type.
Noting the discrepancy and desiring it to be done as orig agreed, I was informed another 3 weeks would be necessary to make the swap out consequently that also meant another months rent for residency elsewhere.
THE WIRE CARRYING THE POWER TO MY NEW HOME btw, IS ALUMINUM COMING OFF THOSE TELEPHONE POLES.
Having owned both sorts, Im unable to distinguish any sonic diffs from aluminum to copper services.
I severely doubt anyone can walk into someones home or dealership and hear a rig and then say, Oh, youre running an xxxx service here, right?
Pigtailing
If you need to pigtail off of an existing ckt, and the inside wires are aluminum, which is very rare OR USED TO BE VERY RARE, using the proper sized fasteners and copper wiring thereafter should pose no real danger.
caution
PROVIDED THE EFFECT OF THE PIGTAILING DOES NOT ALLOW THE CKT TO BE OVER STRESSED, OR ITS CURRENT MAXIMUM EXCEEDED ALL SHOULD BE GOOD.
The primary concerns in wiring a home or rewirijng a home is due to the insulator materials dissolving or decaying, or the then ckt is incapable of conducting the now needed amount of current.
Most every house fire attributed to some electrical issue revolves around the insulation of the wire itself not the tuype of wire in use or it is due to a faulty device or appliance in the ckt. OR ATTACHED TO THE CKT., Becoming unsafe.
Lastly, if some rewiring is in order within a home for an upgrade, lets say, in some areas it is forced onto the electrician to sign off on the homes entire electrical safety even though only one small part is being replaced or upgraded . If he does not sign off, a waiver must then be signed by the home owner resolving the tech from any further liability thats the way it is around here.
BTW JPS cables use aluminum or did at one point.
I wonder when the next thread along these lines will speak of using silver instead of copper.