greyboy39 Posted June 4, 2018 Report Share Posted June 4, 2018 So, I don't see aluminum wiring to often unless its' stranded and typically it's the SEC. At todays inspection solid aluminum #8 was observed at a double pole 40 amp breaker which is serving the electric range. Getting conflicting information about #8 having the capability to serve 40 amp breakers and am wondering if it is adequate and do ya'll make your clients aware of of its' presence regardless of adequacy. It was marked as XHHW #8 and was in a house built in 1986. Top two wires in pictures and picture of the wire jacket is included but apparently not a very good one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erby Posted June 5, 2018 Report Share Posted June 5, 2018 You wire is OK for the breaker but is 40 Amps adequate for the range. Some ranges require 50 Amps.https://www.cerrowire.com/ampacity-charts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inspector57 Posted June 5, 2018 Report Share Posted June 5, 2018 1 hour ago, Erby said: You wire is OK for the breaker but is 40 Amps adequate for the range. Some ranges require 50 Amps.https://www.cerrowire.com/ampacity-charts Wrong chart, that one is for copper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inspector57 Posted June 5, 2018 Report Share Posted June 5, 2018 http://www.usawire-cable.com/pdfs/nec ampacities.pdf Try this one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Katen Posted June 5, 2018 Report Share Posted June 5, 2018 Erby's chart shows the aluminum ampacities way over on the right side. Both charts (and the NEC) allow #8 SER cable to be used on a 40 amp circuit (you have to use the 75-degree column, which is fine if all of the terminals in the circuit are marked for 75 degrees, which they almost certainly are). On many ranges, the installation instructions will specify either a 40- or 50-amp circuit, even though the range is capable of drawing more than that. I suspect that the manufacturer figures you won't run all of the burners on high at once. Being the suspicious type, I've tested this several times on several ranges. The 40-amp breakers rarely trip, even when the amp draw creeps up above 40 amps for a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Katen Posted June 5, 2018 Report Share Posted June 5, 2018 This was from a 13.5kw range. The installation manual said that it was supposed to be installed on a 50 amp circuit. The breaker did eventually trip, but it took a surprisingly long time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erby Posted June 5, 2018 Report Share Posted June 5, 2018 When Momma is cooking Thanksgiving dinner and using all the burners and the oven at the same time, a breaker tripping or wire overheating can be a big inconvenience. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Katen Posted June 5, 2018 Report Share Posted June 5, 2018 Sure, but I can't remember *ever* using all the burners on high at the same time. . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Posted June 5, 2018 Report Share Posted June 5, 2018 Not worth writing up. What's that solid aluminum doing on an 86' house? Aluminum wiring left the residential market in 72'. That's worth checking out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Katen Posted June 5, 2018 Report Share Posted June 5, 2018 7 hours ago, Marc said: Not worth writing up. What's that solid aluminum doing on an 86' house? Aluminum wiring left the residential market in 72'. That's worth checking out. You can still get #8 solid aluminum SE cable. I see it about once a month. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnyWaltter Posted August 10, 2018 Report Share Posted August 10, 2018 (edited) Hi everyone,My house has aluminum wiring and I am currently insured with TD. I am hoping to look around for a lower premium but I know that a lot of insurers do not insure houses with aluminum wiring.. does anyone know who does/does not insure aluminum wiring?Thank you! Edited August 11, 2018 by Bill Kibbel LInk dropping. Probably not a real question - advertising links removed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Dirks Jr Posted September 13, 2018 Report Share Posted September 13, 2018 I think the insurance companies stopped asking about aluminum wiring some time ago. At least that's the content of discussion I've had with realtors in recent times. I've dealt with both Allstate and Geico in the recent years. Neither of them asked me if my house had aluminum wiring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erby Posted September 17, 2018 Report Share Posted September 17, 2018 How old were your houses, John? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Dirks Jr Posted September 22, 2018 Report Share Posted September 22, 2018 Erby, my house is 1962. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Posted September 22, 2018 Report Share Posted September 22, 2018 (edited) On 9/22/2018 at 8:18 AM, John Dirks Jr said: Erby, my house is 1962. I thought aluminum first entered the market in 65". My experience in my area has confirmed that for at least a decade now. Edited September 23, 2018 by Marc Spelling Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Dirks Jr Posted September 23, 2018 Report Share Posted September 23, 2018 That doesn’t mean someone didn’t have some AL cable laying around that they later installed for additional circuits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.