Thread: CCAW

Does anyone have experience with or comments about Copper Clad Aluminum Wire used for residential whole house wiring?

What year is the house?

A townhouse built in 1976, Las Vegas, NV

In my experience it has the same problems as any aluminum wiring that is used for branch circuit wiring. The wire is still soft and gets loose and can heat up at a connection or terminal.

Copper clad aluminum is treated the same as aluminum wiring, it must have devices rated for aluminum wire.

Being as the wiring is the same, with the except of the copper cladding over the aluminum, it is susceptible to the same problems as aluminum wiring.

Originally Posted by Jerry Peck

Copper clad aluminum is treated the same as aluminum wiring, it must have devices rated for aluminum wire.

Being as the wiring is the same, with the except of the copper cladding over the aluminum, it is susceptible to the same problems as aluminum wiring.

CU clad AL is sized like aluminum but can be terminated like copper, there are many wiring devices that are marked "CU or CU clad wire only", there is no other reason to have CU clad AL.

IMO, any aluminum conductors smaller then 6 AWG is a bad thing, but "low bid" rules the roost.

Originally Posted by Rollie Meyers

CU clad AL is sized like aluminum but can be terminated like copper, there are many wiring devices that are marked "CU or CU clad wire only", there is no other reason to have CU clad AL.

IMO, any aluminum conductors smaller then 6 AWG is a bad thing, but "low bid" rules the roost.

Tha is pretty much how I see it as well!