Forum Discussion
- wa8yxmExplorer IIII will join the use the special connectors designed for the job chorus.
Avoid joining AL to CU if possible but if you must use the proper AL/CU or CU/Al connector for it is designed for the job.
Standard connectors not good for this. Corrosion will set in, resistance goes up and with a Stove or oven which are HIGH CURRENT devices.. bad things can happen (like fires) - down_homeExplorer III'm not sure what is available today as far as ovens.We made a lot of aluminum wire at Olin but I wouldn't use it. Any sharp king or bend or just anything starts to act as dam, if you will, and resistance starts and heats up and over time can fail causing fire. At one time when Mobile Home manufacturers used aluminum wire, there was a tremendous percentage of them that went up in flames from using aluminum wire. Still a lot of it is used in high tension lines etc but I'm not upon the tech now. Rh special crimps or nuts for these dissimliar metals are a must.Aluminum under high electric loads get hotter at kinks joints and connections. and when in contact with copper etc any moisture in the air or on the connection will cause a lot of galvanic and other corrosion. When the wires get cold moisture is attracted and just like a metal spoon or glass taken from a freezer or refrigerator aluminum oxides form rapidly even in the driest of air.
- rhagfoExplorer IIIWell the OP has not replied to any post yet, just posted last night so give him some time. I recall installing an oven in the kitchen of our house about 20 years ago. It was CU to AL connection, sing an oven and on a 40 amp circuit I think the wire sizes were #8 and #6, I used the CU/AL goop and split bolts. The connection was then wrapped rubber insulation tape followed by electrical tape. The connection was made in a large J-box with an extension (4-11/16” box) and cover in the cabinet below the ovens. Never an issue! I would never use twist on connectors on the size wire.
- frankwpExplorerAre you sure it's aluminum? That would be highly unusual. It's probably tin plated copper.
- BurbManExplorer IIElectric stoves don't come with wire, they come with a terminal block that you connect your wire to. I suspect that the home has an aluminum wire going to the stove, since many houses built in the early 70's used aluminum for heavy gauge feeds like stove, dryer, and a/c. The terminal block on the new stove is probably labeled "Copper wire only."
The best way to wire this new stove is to terminate the aluminum wire coming out of the wall into a receptacle box that is Cu/Al compatible like this one at Lowe's.
Then get yourself a copper cord set like this to attach to the stove and plug in to the new receptacle.
This is the safest way to do this without replacing the wire, since you can't safely connect the aluminum wire directly to the range. - ppineExplorer IIThanks to Old Biscuit and Mexico.
do it right. BurbMan wrote:
Op said Oven not stove if that matters.
Electric stoves don't come with wire, they come with a terminal block that you connect your wire to.
I just put one in two years ago and the Kitchenaid electric oven most definitely came with an armored pigtail to be hardwired. No instructions to replace with a cord and plug.- Cummins12V98Explorer III
Hondavalk wrote:
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Alumiconn-3-Port-Al-Cu-2-Pack-Purple-Al-Cu-Wire-Connectors/4433877#:~:text=King%20Innovation%20AlumiConn%20aluminum%20to,to%20eliminate%20intermixing%20of%20conductors.
That product is designed for #10-12 Aluminum. I am sure they make a connector like that to fit the larger gauge wire on an oven. A very good solution.
Personally I would prefer the cord/receptacle method shown above.
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