Aluminum wireing
#1
10-25-02, 04:58 PM
Aluminum wireing
Have you ever heard of 10 gauge wire about 25 to 40 years old breaking down while under a 110 volt load?
We have a line from the house to an old garage that may have this problem. Have ruled out a problem in the circuit breaker box and all switches and lights.
This line is about 65-70 feet in length and exposed to the weather.
We have a line from the house to an old garage that may have this problem. Have ruled out a problem in the circuit breaker box and all switches and lights.
This line is about 65-70 feet in length and exposed to the weather.
#3
10-26-02, 09:06 AM
Is this buried cable or arial. It think it is arial as you said exposed to weather. The insulation could have broke down and the conductors are shorting. Or the conductors could be broken from swinging in the wind. If it is an open situation check near all the poles and at the ends of the line.
#4
10-26-02, 09:26 AM
By breaking down
I mean we are getting a voltage drop after a couple of hours use. This may go to a complete loss of power after several hours.
This a.m. we found that the end of the wire going into a fuse box in the garage was corroded and loose. This was caused by the previous owner of this place replacing the brass anchor screw with a steel screw.
We are going to replace the old wire with new romax as the present wiring is, in my opinion, unsafe.
This a.m. we found that the end of the wire going into a fuse box in the garage was corroded and loose. This was caused by the previous owner of this place replacing the brass anchor screw with a steel screw.
We are going to replace the old wire with new romax as the present wiring is, in my opinion, unsafe.
#5
10-26-02, 10:59 AM
Forum Topic Moderator
Sarah,
DO NOT replace your existing cable with non-metallic cable or Romex. This type of cable is not to be used where it is exposed to the weather.
If you can describe your application better we can give a better type of cable to use.
DO NOT replace your existing cable with non-metallic cable or Romex. This type of cable is not to be used where it is exposed to the weather.
If you can describe your application better we can give a better type of cable to use.
#6
10-27-02, 04:43 AM
romax...
This is my husband's question, I'll do what I can with it. The wires run in the air from the house to his shop/garage. Used for lights, floresant and regular bulbs, drills, saws, sanders, anything electricity can be used for in a work shop. 
#8
10-27-02, 09:08 AM
Breaker size
is 30 amperes.
In the past someone has put an old style 2 fuse box in the garage which also has 30 ampere fuses. We are not using any commercial duty tools. Being retired I use mainly a skill saw and electric drill and sometimes a power sander or small bench grinder.
In the past someone has put an old style 2 fuse box in the garage which also has 30 ampere fuses. We are not using any commercial duty tools. Being retired I use mainly a skill saw and electric drill and sometimes a power sander or small bench grinder.
#9
10-27-02, 09:39 AM
Member
As soon as practical, replace the 30-amp fuses with 15-amp or 20-amp fuses. General use receptacles are not allowed on circuits with 30-amp protection. You might want to have an electrically experienced person do a thorough review of your electrical system for other safety hazards. It's clear that some former owners were not as concerned about safety as I am sure that you are.
thank you John...
