Swap you Cu for Au anyday!

Not Cu for Al though!

Richard

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dennis Plunkett [mailto:dennis@RDD.NECA.NEC.COM.AU]
> Sent: Monday, September 27, 1999 11:49 AM
> To: PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
> Subject: Re: Dissimilar metals
>
>
> At 19:26 26/09/99 -0400, you wrote:
> >> Normal use causes the aluminum to loosen at all connections due to
> >> thermal contractions and expansions at the joints.
> >>
> >> Aluminum is one of those materials that "cold flows".  If
> anyone ever
> >> tinned a stranded copper wire and put it under a screw
> terminal, they
> >> know about loose connections and cold flow.  It WILL get loose, no
> >> matter what the fixtures were designed for.
> >
> >This should be why in USA they use screw and spring
> connections at the
> >power outlets. At the first time I saw a solid wire just
> inserted into
> >the spring blade contact I thought it was just a faster way to do the
> >wiring, even representing a very weak contact compared to
> what could be
> >if using the screw just aside the same power outlet.
> >
> >It is some kind of a double fork where the solid wire enters
> but can not
> >gets out, it keeps a spring pressure electric contact to the wire.
> >
> >Of course the screw connection would be much stronger,
> but... probably
> >for aluminum wire this is the answer.
> >
> >Some of my house's power outlets (w/aprox 8 amps consume)
> needed to be
> >replaced right after 6 years of use, at the new ones I used
> the screws.
> >The previous wires got superheated and the isolation burnt at that
> >spring loaded contact...
> >
> >By the way, some experiences with transformers using
> aluminum wire?  :)
> >
> >Wagner.
> >
> >
>
> It seems that you are suffering under the guize of Eddisons
> total lack of
> forsight. Pathetic 120V distrobution, at least we got that
> right, and we
> have the oldest power plug standard in the world. To think
> that some idiots
> where thinking of forcing us to change to your quazi
> standard! Thank Andy's
> g-d that, that didn't happen!
>
> As of aluminuim cable, well we use T.P.S. and it only comes
> in copper, I
> can recall some articals on the use od Au, but it was
> rejected due to the
> cost of retraining electricans, and all the aterations that would be
> required for fittings, and then there was the wire cost, very little
> difference. The drop wire (Or feeder into the house is Au,
> and so too are
> most power cables)
>
> (I am waiting for all the comebacks on 11kV 22kV 220kV
> distrobuition and
> 500kV 1 and 2 and 5 MegV stuff, then 1500V DC and 600VDC,
> come on I can
> take it <G>)
>
>
> Dennis
>