70s house, aluminium conductors

[freddo]

The conductors should probably be coated with an anti-oxidant paste designed for aluminium electrical terminations. I use Ideal Noalox, though it's usually on much larger conductors.

 

[Pretty Mouth]

I've never known aluminium cables that small, even the lighting cables all seem to have a much larger CSA than the copper equivalent. Best to rewire if you can, all the stuff I've come across has been very brittle, and broke off with very little amounts of bending.

It seems to be very unusual. I've done a fair bit of online research into it the last few days and can only find 1 or 2 accounts of people having come across it at 1mm². I've just ordered some of the Wago Alu-Plus paste that I linked to in my OP, which I assume is much the same as Noalox - I'll report back here when I use it.

I'll be going there tomorrow to have another look at it so I'll get some photos, and take a measurement with the micrometer for those interested.

 

[davesparks]

Clean the conductor at the temrinations and apply anti-oxidant grease to the clean conductor. This can then be terminated into brass terminals.

As far as I know vaseline can be used in place of fancy anti-oxidant grease the same as you would use it on copper terminations.

The problem with aluminium conductors in brass terminals is that the dissimilar metals react and corrode.

 

[Robson689]

Might be worth getting some "paste" as we call it? Thomas & Betts CTB8 is the one we use at my work

 

[EddieSparks]

When you think about it, that wiring is almost 50 years old, it would not be unreasonable to suggest a rewire. The last thing you want to happen is start trying correct minor faults within the installation and making the problems worse by creating high resistance joints by damaging old terminals or even fracturing the conductors. Sometimes you can spend as much time trying to correct faults as it would take to rewire the circuit.

 

[davesparks]

When you think about it, that wiring is almost 50 years old, it would not be unreasonable to suggest a rewire.

As it is old aluminium wiring which has been known to fracture at bends or otherwise deteriorate then I agree, a rewire should be considered.
However if this was copper wiring I wouldn't be so sure, being 50 years old on its own wouldn't be reason enough to rewire.

 

[EddieSparks]

Totally, if the reading are good, then why replace it,

 

[davesparks]

Totally, if the reading are good, then why replace it,

That's not quite what I said, there's more to consider than just readings, tests only tell you a small part of the story. I find too much faith is put in the idea that passing a test makes everything safe, a twist and tape joint will generally pass testing.

I said being 50 years old on its own isn't a reason to rewire.

 

[EddieSparks]

But that is impossible to ever know how a circuit is constructed. But after 50 years of being in a house, and having people add to the circuit and take away parts. Which I Would put money on it that people have played around with it, you can’t go around ripping up the floor in someone house to have a look, so you have to go on something and you go by what the reading tell you. If the reading are clear, let’s say above 20Meg for example. Your R1/R2 are correct, other than looking at as much as you can see, That’s about it.
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You are correct in saying age is not something to go by.

 

[Pretty Mouth]

I agree that a rewire would be for the best, hopefully they can afford it. As it stands I cannot say for certain that it has ever complied with the regulations, and I can find no data for current carrying capacity. Does anyone know if aluminium conductors would have the same CCC as copper clad aluminium conductors?