UL's View Of Aluminum Electrical Components
I have mentioned this clearly several times in several threads, now I will scream it. NO MATTER WHAT BRAND OF RV YOU HAVE YOU MUST MUST MUST MUST REMOVE THE COVER OFF OF THE ALTERNATING SHORE...
Forum Discussion
atreis wrote:
I suspect a lot of the arguments come from the misrepresentation in the subject. UL doesn't have anything to do with this.
Nonetheless, it is good advice.
You are correct.
The "UL" alert that Mex has provided is addressing ALUMINUM WIRE, not copper wire.
"Risks of Aluminum Wire Electrical Systems
Aluminum wire, normally found in residential building structures -- apartments, condominiums, and private homes -- fails typically in electrical connections that are 15 amps and 20 amps (#12 gage and #10 gage). Aluminum wire installed between 1965 and 1971 is most likely to be "old technology" wire (AA-1350) and that installed from 1972 to 1975 could be either "old technology" wire or "new technology" wire (AA-8000). Even after the discontinued use of aluminum wire, contractors were allowed to use existing stock -- and residential buildings built as late as 1975 could contain "old technology" aluminum wire."
I would very highly doubt that any RVs built in the late 70's and up would have any aluminum WIRE..
But, as I stated previously.. The breaker panel DOES contain TIN COATED ALUMINUM BUSS BARS.. The TIN coating makes this connection compatible with copper or aluminum.
In a sticks and bricks you don't have the movement and vibration found in a RV so the connections tend to be pretty stable.. Not to mention home breaker panels tend to be pretty good size, lots of space which lends to much less heat build up.
In a RV I could see where it is a good idea to check your copper connections partly do to vibration, very small breaker panel (crowded and very small area allows heat to build up compounding the problem) AND less than stellar assembly line techs which most likely are not properly trained electricians to start with.
The tiny breaker panels used in RVs just don't cut it with me, thats why I changed mine to a small 8/16 (8 full size breakers or 16 half size breakers) home breaker panel.. Lots of space, no crowded wire or connections and MUCH more robust buss bars with healthier set screws..
