User:Rrostie/CU/AL

CU/AL or AL/CU
CU/AL copper/aluminum or AL/CU aluminum/copper or CO/ALR copper/aluminum, revised. refer to wire connectors and soldering lugs for use with Copper to copper, aluminum to aluminum, copper to aluminum but not intermixed or in direct physical contact, copper-clad aluminum to copper-clad aluminum, copper to copper-clad aluminum, aluminum to copper-clad aluminum but not intermixed or in direct physical contact.

CO/ALR
CO/ALR is commonly marked on 15 A and 20 A switches and receptacles, while AL/CU is marked on terminals 30 A and higher.

AL-CU (intermixed - dry locations)
AL-CU (intermixed - dry locations) refer to wire connectors and soldering lugs for use with copper to aluminum intermixed and in direct physical contact, copper-clad aluminum to copper-clad aluminum, copper to copper-clad aluminum, aluminum to copper-clad aluminum and in direct physical contact

Screwless Pressure Terminal Connectors
Screwless pressure terminal connectors of the conductor push-in type are for use only with copper and copper-clad aluminum conductors, and not with aluminum conductors.

Generally, aluminum wiring and terminals should only be installed by licenced electricion

Combinations of dissimilar conductors in terminal or splicing connectors are acceptable only in dry locations and when the connectors are identified as suitable for such intermixing by the code AL-CU (intermixed - dry locations)

CU/AL or AL/CU refer to wire connectors and soldering lugs for use with Copper to copper, aluminum to aluminum, copper to aluminum but not intermixed or in direct physical contact, copper-clad aluminum to copper-clad aluminum, copper to copper-clad aluminum, aluminum to copper-clad aluminum but not intermixed or in direct physical contact

AL-CU (intermixed - dry locations)

Wire connectors are listed under the product category Wire Connectors and Soldering Lugs (ZMVV). Under the heading of Product Markings and Ratings and the subheading Conductor Material it states: “Except as otherwise noted on or in the shipping carton, aluminum conductors are not intended to be used in direct physical contact with copper and copper-clad aluminum conductors in the same connector. A wire connector for securing an aluminum wire in combination with a copper or copper-clad aluminum conductor, where physical contact occurs between the wires of different metals, is limited to dry locations only and is marked “AL-CU (intermixed – dry locations).”

Conductor Termination Compound
Some connectors are shipped pre-filled with conductor termination compound (antioxidant compound). For non-prefilled connectors, conductor termination compound may be used if recommended by the connector manufacturer as preliminary preparation of the conductor. Wire brushing of the conductor may also be performed if recommended.

Standards
The basic standards used are ANSI/UL 486A-486B, "Wire Connectors," and ANSI/UL 486C, "Splicing Wire Connectors."

Instalation
The connecting or splicing of aluminum wiring to aluminum, copper-clad aluminum or copper should only be performed by a licensed electrician with special training and tools. A specific tool and die is used to assemble a wire connector to a conductor as identified by markings on the connector or the packaging it came in.