If you're running them on a rooftop (i.e. not buried),
expansion/contraction is a bigger issue with aluminum than copper-- so
plan for that as best you can, like with loops in pull boxes and sweeps
rather than LBs.
On 2012/2/13 13:39, Exeltech wrote:
AL advantage:
Weight (especially in long overhead runs).
Theft factor (less attractive than CU to thieves at the moment).
CU advantage:
Smaller conductors for a given current.
CU-friendly lugs are readily found on the shelf.
Ease of attachment to hardware.
Less brittle/more flexible than AL.
Commonly available in a variety of gauges.
Common to both:
Both metals corrode if improperly protected.
AL/CU recognized splice blocks alleviate dissimilar metals issues.
Likely there are many more. There's a wealth of experience in this group.
Dan
--- On *Mon, 2/13/12, James Rudolph /<jamesrudolp...@gmail.com>/* wrote:
From: James Rudolph <jamesrudolp...@gmail.com>
Subject: [RE-wrenches] AL vs CU
To: "RE-wrenches" <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org>
Date: Monday, February 13, 2012, 10:35 AM
Gurus,
Other than the cost and increased labor what else could be a factor
in determining
whether or not to use copper or aluminum in long output circuits?
--
*
James B Rudolph
NABCEP Certified PV Installer
California Certified Journeyman Electrician
*Don't get me wrong: I love nuclear energy! It's just that I prefer
fusion to fission.
And it just so happens that there's an enormous fusion reactor
safely banked a
few million miles from us. It delivers more than we could ever use
in just about 8
minutes. And it's wireless! - William McDonough
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