What's the best way of replacing a plug or switch in a house with aluminum wiring?

Question

My house has aluminum wiring, which from what I understand isn't recommended any more. How do I replace a plug or switch since the new unit only takes copper wiring?

Answer 1

There are two ways to do it:

• Use CO/ALR switches/receptacles: these are specifically designed for aluminum wire. They have "CO/ALR" stamped on them somewhere. When you connect the wire, use a paste like Noalox (box stores sell it).

• Use a pigtail connection: Sometimes it is not possible to find CO/ALR switches with the function or style you need. You can use a copper wire to connect to the switch itself as usual, and then a #63 wire connector to connect the copper wire to the aluminum one. Here is a picture of a 3-way dimmer switch I installed using this method:

  

  (apologies for fuzzy picture)

  Note that you do the same thing with switches that have wires coming out of them already (like most dimmer switches do): connect with #63 wire connectors. Use the anti-oxidant paste on the wire connector as well (apply to the wires before you screw on the connector).

Answer 2

Here's what I did in my house, based on internet research and asking my Dad, a construction superintendent.

1. Buy some wire nuts made for multiple types of wire and some anti-corrosion compound (usually available in the same area of the hardware store).
2. Take some copper wire and twist it together with the aluminum wire.
3. Put the compound on the wire and some inside the wire nut.
4. Twist the wire nut onto the wire twist you made.
5. Use the new copper end to connect to the new plug/switch.

Answer 3

My parent's house has aluminum wiring. You can either search for CO-ALR switches and plugs which take aluminum wires or get the paste as you said and wire them together. The paste is important, otherwise the wires corrode and start rubbing/sparking .... bad mojo from there.

Answer 4

To my knowledge, this insulated 3 port splice connector is the safest product on the market right now. Unfortunately, I don't know who actually makes it or what it's called- just what it looks like. NSi Industries (Tork) makes something similar (their IPL series), but I'm not sure if they make really small ones like you need.

Answer 5

I discovered I have the same issue here. My research has found that aluminum wiring is UNSAFE, and you need to be very careful about what you do. The two options are:

1. Replace the wiring. This is not something that would be safe to do on your own (you really should get a licensed contractor), and looks to cost several thousand dollars (like $8000+ for a 1600 sq ft home).
2. Use AlumiConn. This stuff is actually approved to be used for aluminum to copper connections (the other pigtails mentioned here are NOT), and you can get a free sample to try it out. There's another thing, called COPALUM, but it's not really something you can DIY. Wikipedia has some good information on this.

I'll update when I actually get my sample AlumiConn connector to see if it's a viable option. The safest option would be to get a licensed electrician to rewire the house with copper, since the aluminum connections are inherently dangerous (and you will probably find other issues, such as bad breakers, 3-wire 240V instead of 4-wire, and a poorly labeled breaker box like I did). I've had receptacles in my house spark and connections melt because of the aluminum, so please take this seriously.

Edit 1: There's also more information about aluminum wiring from the CPSC (PDF) (Consumer Product Safety Commission).

Answer 6

I am a licensed electrician in Connecticut. My own condo has aluminum wiring, I highly recommend the alum.con connectors because they are homeowner friendly. Two methods are presented:

1. a special torque screwdriver (recommended)
2. a set of specific instructions for the number of turns on the copper side/aluminum side.

These connectors are quickly becoming accepted by major insurance companies. Their downside is price: approximately $2.00 each, and figure three per outlet if you choose to do the grounds as well.

Also they are a bit larger than standard wire nuts adding a bit more difficulty for wire and device room in a existing device box. They appear to be code compliant in most cases for cubic inch capacity.

I have installed them in my home and neighbors. The biggest issue with aluminum wiring arc issues are exterior walls that are poorly insulated and major temperature changes occur over the years exaggerating the expansion/contraction issues. Hope this helps.

Do not use the Ideal purple wire nuts; I've seen too many melt downs; it's a bad product.

Answer 7

Just buy the ALR rated outlets and switches. You can pigtail but I don't like that as you now have 2 connections instead of one and you bend the wire more stuffing all that into the box. I have 35 yr old alum wiring. My wiring is in great shape. Replaced several outlets that needed to be replaced. They had the classic alumnimum connection issues. Connected properly there is no problem with aluminum wire. I remember when it came out the industry was publishing all sorts of propaganda to sell ALR as the next big thing. Popular mechanics did a big piece saying we'd never use copper again. Now they are selling $50 "special" cold weld connectors. Its all a big friggin joke and a $ machine. A good connection will remain in place for decades no matter how many hot/cold cycles it goes thru. A bad connection may very well have problems.