Ask Me Help Desk - Questions about house with aluminum wiring

Questions about house with aluminum wiring

I have recently purchased a home with what appears to be 80% aluminum wiring. The outlets and switches all worked fine, but were not rated for aluminum use. Prior to purchasing the home I spoke with my insurance agent and she indicated they would need a certificate of inspection from our local electrical inspection office. So I spoke with the inspector and he instructed me to A) replace all outlets and switches with aluminum rated ones or B) pigtail copper to the aluminum using aluminum/copper marettes and use nolox compound. So I choose to do B as it was much less expensive, although we also put in brand new switches and outlets at the same time. Also replaced all the light fixtures. Passed the inspection no problem.

Two problems I am noticing:
1 - almost all of the switches have an "arcing" noise when flipped. If I hold the switch in that middle position between on and off you can hear it on almost all of them. Ive rechecked the connections and they are all very tight at both the switch and marette. Is this likely coming from the pigtail (copper and aluminum) or from the switch itself? Could it be bad switches? Seems very odd that this happens with almost all of them.

2 - I put in some ceiling fans also and one of them has a dimmer on it. I know you aren't supposed to use dimmers with aluminum, but I assume this is OK if I have it pigtailed to copper? When the light is dimmed there is a constant low volume buzzing noise coming from the fan. Is this normal?

Thanks for any advice...

--->Try buying better quality switches. May want to buy one first, hook it up, and record the results.

---> Rid the Fan dimmer control, and try a set speed fan control.

Wait for others to comment!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Washington1

--->Try buying better quality switches. May want to buy one first, hook it up, and record the results.

---> Rid the Fan dimmer control, and try a set speed fan control.

wait for others to comment!

So it could be cheap switches? Is it a safety hazard? The switches are the 10 packs from Home depot.

For the fan - it's the light that dims and causes the noise when dimmed, not the fan. The light and fan is controlled via remote. Im not sure what you mean by a set speed fan control.

Thanks

You know what. I wrote a response--took me twenty minutes, and the damn computer shut down, so I lost all that time, and work. I want be re-writing what I wrote.

Real quick:

The hum is normal because the filament is vibrating when you reduce the voltage. All filaments vibrate at certain frequencies, and at times you will hear it. Try a better quality bulb first. Pick up a 130v bulb from the electrical supply house, and see what happens. The remote may be causing interference as well, but lets try the bulb first, then go from there.

Cheap switches: try buying a Pass and Seymour switch (just buy one), and see if this works. If you want to use Leviton, then use a commercial grade switch instead of your 50-70 cents switch.

Sorry, I wrote more than this last time, but I lost it. Get back to us once you've tried the above.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Washington1

You know what. I wrote a response--took me twenty mins, and the damn computer shut down, so I lost all that time, and work. I want be re-writing what I wrote.

Real quick:

The hum is normal because the filament is vibrating when you reduce the voltage. all filaments vibrate at certain frequencies, and at times you will hear it. Try a better quality bulb first. Pick up a 130v bulb from the electrical supply house, and see what happens. The remote may be causing interference as well, but lets try the bulb first, then go from there.

Cheap switches: try buying a Pass and Seymour switch (just buy one), and see if this works. If you want to use Leviton, then use a commercial grade switch instead of your 50-70 cents switch.

Sorry, i wrote more than this last time, but I lost it. Get back to us once you've tried the above.

Thanks - I will try that. Curious though if the "arcing" noise in the switches is a safety hazard/concern or just an annoyance?

Quote:

If I hold the switch in that middle position between on and off

I just notice this. If you do this, any switch will arc, because you are creating an air gap. If the switch isn't arcing when in "normal" operation, then you should be fine. It's a safety hazard if you are intentionally causing it to arc (may be putting pit holes in the contacts).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Washington1

I just notice this. If you do this, any switch will arc, because you are creating an air gap. If the switch isn't arcing when in "normal" operation, then you should be fine. It's a safty hazard if you are intentionally causing it to arc (may be putting pit holes in the contacts).

Yeah they only do this while being turned on or off, not while fixed in the on or off position. So this is OK then? Ive never noticed this in my other homes, so I thought it might be cause for concern?

If you are turning the switch on and off--switching normally (meaning, not trying to switch it slow, or balance the toggle in the middle), then you should "not" be getting arcs. If you do, then you need to buy better switches.

Another reason for causing an arc in the switch, would be the load you are placing on the switch. (I'm sure this doesn't count in your situation)

Fans are not supposed to be used with dimmers it is a fire hazard.

Ceilingfan,

OP said this:

Quote:

it's the light that dims and causes the noise when dimmed, not the fan.

Washington said:

Quote:

The hum is normal because the filament is vibrating when you reduce the voltage. All filaments vibrate at certain frequencies, and at times you will hear it. Try a better quality bulb first. Pick up a 130v bulb from the electrical supply house, and see what happens. The remote may be causing interference as well, but lets try the bulb first, then go from there.

Cheap switches: try buying a Pass and Seymour switch (just buy one), and see if this works. If you want to use Leviton, then use a commercial grade switch instead of your 50-70 cents switch.

Sorry, I wrote more than this last time, but I lost it. Get back to us once you've tried the above

and this:

Quote:

Rid the Fan dimmer control, and try a set speed fan control.

Sorry, I didn't see those replies. My apologies.

No problem!

Have a Merry Christmas!