Had an electrician inspect our house for insurance purpose. He said because wire to/from the breaker box had aluminum grounds, the whole house would have to be rewired with wire with copper grounds. Is this true? the hot/neutral wires are both copper.
COMMUNITY FORUM
- Forum >
- Electrical & Lighting >
- ground wires
Can you be more specific about what wires he is talking about? Are these the wires from the service panel to the grounding electrode (rod driven in the earth or metal water line)? Grounding electrode conductors can be copper, aluminum, or copper-clad aluminum.
It's the wires from the breaker box to the outlets and light switches.
I know there's a problem mixing alum and copper, but I thought this was only for the hot/neutral line, not the grounding wire for the outlets.
I know there's a problem mixing alum and copper, but I thought this was only for the hot/neutral line, not the grounding wire for the outlets.
I have been an electrician for about 30 years and have never seen sheathed electrical cable type wire (non-metalic sheathed cable) with copper conductors mixed with an aluminum ground. I really don't think such wire was ever manufactured. There is wire with copper clad aluminum (thin coat of copper over aluminum), and strait aluminum. You may want to get a second oppinion from a reputable electrical contractor, or local electrical inspector.
Jim Simmons
WA State Master Electrician
Jim Simmons
WA State Master Electrician
