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Electrical Inspections Contains discussions about electrical systems. This includes receptacles, panels, wiring, etc.

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  #1  
Old 10/11/09, 1:54 AM
David Nasser's Avatar
David Nasser David Nasser is offline
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Default Aluminum ground wire in Main Panel ? (Pics)

Southern Calif. House built in 1981. Ground wire looks like it is
of Aluminum...Two Breakers seem also to be connected by aluminum
wiring....All other wires in the panel were copper. (including the service wires: 100 amp)
No defects detected...all branch circuits it the house worked.



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  #2  
Old 10/11/09, 2:19 AM
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Jeffrey R. Pope Jeffrey R. Pope is offline
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Default Re: Aluminum ground wire in Main Panel ? (Pics)

AL GEC, no problem. Multi-strand AL, no problem.



IF YOUR INSPECTOR IS NOT USING THERMAL IMAGING, YOU'RE NOT GETTING THE WHOLE PICTURE ®
Jeff Pope
JPI Home Inspection Service
Santa Clarita CA
(661) 212-0738
Santa Clarita Home Inspection
http://www.MyInspector.net


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  #3  
Old 10/11/09, 9:27 AM
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Marcel R. Cyr Marcel R. Cyr is offline
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Default Re: Aluminum ground wire in Main Panel ? (Pics)

Jeff, one of those breakers appears to be a different brand and does't say Cu-Al on it. Could that be a problem.?
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Old 10/11/09, 11:39 AM
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Jeffrey R. Pope Jeffrey R. Pope is offline
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Default Re: Aluminum ground wire in Main Panel ? (Pics)

If the breaker was not rated for AL, that would be a problem, but it appears to be a two-pole Bryant. Most breakers are rated for AL and CU.

The AL wire that we are concerned with is the solid-strand AL, usually 12 AWG to 8 AWG used for distribution (H/N) of the branch circuits. In other words - current carrying conductors.

Larger AL and stranded AL are generally not a concern.



IF YOUR INSPECTOR IS NOT USING THERMAL IMAGING, YOU'RE NOT GETTING THE WHOLE PICTURE ®
Jeff Pope
JPI Home Inspection Service
Santa Clarita CA
(661) 212-0738
Santa Clarita Home Inspection
http://www.MyInspector.net


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  #5  
Old 10/11/09, 12:31 PM
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Marcel R. Cyr Marcel R. Cyr is offline
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Default Re: Aluminum ground wire in Main Panel ? (Pics)

Thanks Jeff, just caught my eye and wasn't sure.
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  #6  
Old 10/11/09, 12:52 PM
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Default Re: Aluminum ground wire in Main Panel ? (Pics)

Thanks for the replies

David
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