Common Electrical Connection Problems

These problems are common with the use of aluminum conductors:

1. In the presence of moisture a corrosive action happens when two different wires contact one another.
2. Aluminum easily oxidizes when exposed to the air, if it happens a poor connection will result. When installing aluminum conductors an inhibitor must be brushed into the conductor, use a stiff brush to scrape the conductor where the connection happens. This way the conductor breaks through the oxidation and the inhibitor will prevent further oxidation.
3. The aluminum wire’s expansion and contraction is greater than that of copper wire of the same load, causing poor connections. To avoid this poor connection longer Crimp connectors are used for greater contact surface of conductor to connector.