Aluminum Wiring Twist-On Connector Usage Information

U.S. CPSC recommends against using any type of twist on connector for alulminum wiring repair, including the Ideal 65® Twister
Questions & Answers about aluminum electrical wiring
References

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U.S. CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) advice about using twist-on connectors (such as the Ideal 65 Twister purple twist on connector) for repairing aluminum electrical wiring.

U.S. CPSC does not recommend use of Twist On Connectors (including the Ideal No. 65) for Aluminum Wiring Repair

This information was obtained under the Freedom of Information Act and posted by Daniel Friedman January 1996 or prior.

U.S. CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION

WASHINGTON. D.C. 20207

July 10, 1998

Dr. Jesse Aronstein

Consulting Engineer

c/o General Delivery

Galway, NY 12074

Re: Twist-On Connectors for Aluminum Wiring

Dear Dr. Aronstein:

In answer to your recent inquiry, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) staff does not consider the use of the twist-on connector (including the Ideal No.65) to be a suitable repair for aluminum wiring in residences.

Acceptable repairs are those identified in the CPSC publication "Repairing Aluminum Wiring" (copy enclosed).

Sincerely,

William H. King, Jr.

Director

Division of Electrical Engineering

Enc

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Technical Reviewers & References

Related Topics, found near the top of this page suggest articles closely related to this one.

Fire Hazards With Aluminum to Copper Twist-on Connectors & Acceptable Aluminum Wiring Repair Practices Color Photos, Current Issues. 9/28/95 CPSC Meeting Minutes
"Is YOUR Aluminum Wiring Safe?" article discussing safety claims made by some people without looking at the wiring, J. Aronstein, 11/21/95
"Repairing Aluminum Wiring", US CPSC Publication 516, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Bethe3sda MD, website: www.cpsc.gov / www.SaferProducts.gov, updated June 2011, original source: .cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/516.pdf, Quoting:
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) staff and other government officials have investigated numerous hazardous incidents and fires throughout the nation involving aluminum branch circuit wiring. A national survey conducted by Franklin Research Institute for CPSC showed that homes built before 1972, and wired with aluminum, are 55 times more likely to have one or more wire connections at outlets reach “Fire Hazard Conditions”1 than homes wired with copper. That survey encompassed only the wire connections at outlets. It did not address other types of aluminum wire connections and splices in homes that are also prone to fail. No information was developed for aluminum-wired homes built after 1972.
The fire hazard investigated by CPSC occurs at connections with aluminum wire, including receptacles or switches and junction boxes; or the hazards occur with major appliances, including dishwashers or furnaces, for example. There are several deterioration processes in aluminum wire connections that cause increased resistance to the flow of electric current, resulting in damage that is cumulative in effect. That increased resistance causes overheating, sometimes at hazardous levels, when current is flowing in the circuit.
AlumiConn website - http://www.kinginnovation.com/products/alumiconn/ has installation videos, Wire combinations, specification sheets, and other information and assistance in purchasing or using this product.
AlumiConn™ AlCopStore.com 223 Salt Lick Road, #279, St. Peters, MO 63376
Tel: 866-826-2256, Fax: 636-754-0500, Email Sales: pking@AlCopStore.com, Email General Inquiry: info@AlCopStore.com
"Repairing Aluminum Wiring," [As updated 2011] U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Publication CPSC#516 available online
"Repairing Aluminum Wiring," [Original, now obsolete] U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Publication CPSC#516 available online
"Record of Commission Action, Commissioners Voting by Ballot", CPSC Publication No. 516, Repairing Aluminum Wiring (original version op.cit.), (Briefing package dated March 15, 2011), Quoting:
The Commission voted unanimously (5-0)·to approve republication of CPSC Publication No. 516, Repairing Aluminum Wiring, with the explicit recognition that the COPALUM and AlumiConn connectors currently are the only products that meet the agency's standards to prevent aluminum wire fire hazards
Copy on file as /aluminum/Pub516_Alumi_Conn.pdf
Southwire Corporation, manufacturer of aluminum (and other) wire products
What Owners Need to Know About [Aluminum] Wiring Dangers, Sandra Fleishman, Washington Post, 3 July 2004 pF01
Carson Dunlop's Home Inspector's Home Study Course (DJF is a contributor and participant in this education project).
Dr. Jess Aronstein, protune@aol.com is a research consultant and an electrical engineer in Poughkeepsie, NY. Dr. Aronstein provides forensic engineering services and independent laboratory testing for various agencies. Dr. Aronstein has published widely on and has designed and conducted tests on aluminum wiring failures, Federal Pacific Stab-Lok electrical equipment, and numerous electrical products and hazards. See Aluminum Wiring Bibliography and see FPE HAZARD ARTICLES, STUDIES for examples.
"The Influence of Corrosion Inhibitor and Surface Abrasion on the Failure of Aluminum-Wired Twist-on Connections", Aronstein, J.; Campbell, W., Components, Hybrids, and Manufacturing Technology, IEEE Transactions on Volume 7, Issue 1, Mar 1984 Page(s): 20 - 24
"Overheating Failures of Aluminum-Wired Special Service Connectors", J.Aronstein and W.E.Campbell, IEEE Transactions, Vol. CHMT-6, No. 1, March 1983.
This paper appears in: Components, Hybrids, and Manufacturing Technology, IEEE Transactions on Publication Date: Mar 1983 Volume: 6, Issue: 1 On page(s): 8 - 15 ISSN: 0148-6411 Current Version Published: 2003-01-06. This paper is available to IEEE members and subscribers and can be obtained through public or academic libraries.
Abstract: Special service" twist-on connectors are tested with aluminum and copper wire combinations. The special service connectors are qualified by a Canadian standard which applies to connectors for use with aluminum branch circuit conductors. Two brands of special service connectors are presently qualified by this standard and marketed. Both are rated for various combinations of aluminum and copper conductors. Samples of both brands are tested in this investigation. The tests are conducted within rated electrical and environmental conditions, with connections made according to the connector manufacturers' instructions. Overheating failures have occurred among the aluminum-wired special service connector combinations. The failures are accelerated by humid environment to a greater extent than by the application of electrical current. In contrast, connections which are copper-wired, using either standard or special service connectors, are stable and failure-free. The difference between the standard twist-on connectors and the special service connectors is in the material used for the connector spring. Improved compatibility between the spring material and the aluminum conductor, compared to the plated steel springs of the conventional twist on connectors, has not dealt with several important failure mechanisms. The test results indicate that the new standard, as presently defined, cannot be relied on to screen out aluminum-wired connector combinations which will not survive long-term operation within rated conditions. Thus the objective of accelerated qualification testing-- the prediction and assurance of safe and reliable operation in actual service---is not achieved in this case. The reasons are discussed, along with possible improvements.
"Evaluation of a Twist-on Connector for Aluminum Wire", Dr. Jesse Aronstein, Forty-Third IEEE Holm Conference on Electrical Contacts, Jan 1997, 0-7803-3968-1/97. [This article describes the Ideal Industries Ideal#65 purple "Twister" twist-on connector marketed as a repair/retrofit for residential aluminum wiring.--DJF]
Abstract: A new type of twist-on splicing component for use with aluminum and copper wire combinations is tested to determine initial resistance, performance in a zero-current environment test, performance in a heat-cycle test, and portion of current carried by the connector's steel spring. The splices tested consist of two aluminum wires and one copper wire.
The aluminum wire samples used for the test are of the types actually installed in aluminum-wired homes. Initial resistance is found to be relatively high, and there is a significant sample-to-sample variation. This reflects failure to consistently establish low-resistance wire-to-wire contact through the insulating oxide film on the wire. Results of the environmental and heat-cycle tests show deterioration of a significant portion of the samples.
The splices made with this connector are also found to be sensitive to mechanical disturbance, such as applied in normal installation when the completed splice is pushed back in to the junction box. Based on the test results, it is concluded that this connector has not overcome the fundamental deficiency of twist-on connectors for use with aluminum wire applications. Keywords: aluminum wire, connectors, twist-on connectors, environmental test, heat-cycle test.
Harbor Freight Hydraulic Wire Crimping Tool Model 66150 instruction manual
Marrette® (Brown)Company, (Canadian Thomas & Betts) ACS™ Aluminum Wiring connector product brochure indicates that this connector is "approved for circuits up to 600V and lighting fixtures and signs up to 1000V, not UL Listed (therefore not approved for use in the United States).
Thomas & Betts, 8155 T&B Boulevard Memphis, TN 38125 USA, is a producer of more than 30,000 electrical components. 888-862-3289. Quoting the company:
Thomas & Betts offers more than 30,000 high-quality products marketed under a variety of market-leading brand names. Designed to help passively conduct electricity, Thomas & Betts products are found everywhere electricity is used -- inside commercial and industrial buildings, in homes and schools, inside complex machinery and original equipment, in the power generating plant and distribution network, outside your home and underground.
Using COALR or CU-AL Electrical Outlets and Switches with Aluminum Wire for the details of these COALR or CU-AL (or AL-CU) products and why they should not be used with aluminum wiring.
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The Aluminum Wiring Information Website Aluminum Wiring Hazards and Repairs: in-depth info, photos, documents. Main Page.

The Aluminum Electrical Wiring Hazard Explained (in the document you are presently viewing)
ALUMINUM WIRE REPAIR METHODS to reduce risk in buildings with Aluminum Electrical Wiring - Overview of Acceptable Repair Practices (in the document you are presently viewing)
Aluminum Wire Repair Method Details - "How to" details, how to identify, COPALUM repair, alternative repairs, history, products, research, source of special AMP TYCO COPALUM connectors & COPALUM Electricians (in the document you are presently viewing)
COPALUM Electricians: Sources of TYCO COPALUM -Certified/Trained Aluminum Wire Repair Services (in the document you are presently viewing)
Other Products, Ideal 65 Purple Twister (not recommended), & other Aluminum Wire Products/Articles (in the document you are presently viewing)

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