Aluminum Body Panel Conductivity.

Lessmore wrote:

Dog Folks wrote:

RoyB wrote:
Wonder what problems will come up using the aluminum frame on the new F150 for battery negative cable frame ground connections.

Roy Ken

Aluminum was used for a while in house wiring so it conducts electricity very well.

We have aluminum wiring in our house. It's no longer used in houses. Copper wiring is regarded as better wiring. We haven't had any problems...touch wood...with out aluminum wiring, but I wish we had copper instead.

Not so much of a problem with the aluminum wiring itself. The problem is where the aluminum wiring is connected to the copper wiring. If the proper connectors are used, there's no problem.

Dog Folks wrote:
snip....
Aluminum was used for a while in house wiring so it conducts electricity very well.

As others have said, the frame is steel so the point is moot.

ALU is no longer used much any more in home wiring

Too many fires

Creep, oxidation, larger gauge to carry amperage than copper and
that most of the electrical connectors were not designed for both
copper and ALU

When I was still a designer...remember that there was a NEC notice
about that. Don't know the current status as haven't been a designer
for decades. Think my reference copy of the NEC code book is dated
in the 70's

Dog Folks wrote:

RoyB wrote:
Wonder what problems will come up using the aluminum frame on the new F150 for battery negative cable frame ground connections.

Roy Ken

Aluminum was used for a while in house wiring so it conducts electricity very well.

We have aluminum wiring in our house. It's no longer used in houses. Copper wiring is regarded as better wiring. We haven't had any problems...touch wood...with out aluminum wiring, but I wish we had copper instead.

RoyB wrote:
Wonder what problems will come up using the aluminum frame on the new F150 for battery negative cable frame ground connections.

Roy Ken

That is the whole point...the battery it becomes when the two metals make an
'electrical connection'

Why it takes a specially trained body shop to work on it...biggie is that all
the fasteners MUST be either plated correctly and/or SS...but SS doesn't have
as high a grade rating as steel fasteners

That 'electrical connection' can be direct contact or via an electrolyte (salty
water is a good one)

Galvanic corrosion is an electrochemical process in which one metal corrodes preferentially to another when both metals are in electrical contact, in the presence of an electrolyte. This same galvanic reaction is exploited in primary batteries to generate an electrical voltage.

mkirsch wrote:


The snow melts off the hood and front fenders when the engine is warm!


Anybody with a new Ford notice the same thing?

Ford pickups have had aluminum hoods since 1997 ....

The heat from the block (engine) heater alone will melt the snow off the hoods of many vehicles.

RoyB wrote:
Wonder what problems will come up using the aluminum frame on the new F150 for battery negative cable frame ground connections.

Roy Ken

Aluminum was used for a while in house wiring so it conducts electricity very well.

As others have said, the frame is steel so the point is moot.

RoyB
The frame on the new Ford F150 is steel. Only the body is aluminum.

Wonder what problems will come up using the aluminum frame on the new F150 for battery negative cable frame ground connections.

Roy Ken

Any sound deadning glued to the underneath ?

My Expedition has an aluminum hood and I have not noticed much difference.