re: the aluminum wire used in high tension power lines
The wire is not quite "aluminum." It is aluminum clad steel (trade name
Alum-O-Weld). It's the same basic product we use for our linear loading
wire, just bigger. It has several advantages over copper/copper clad, which
is why they are changing from copper.
Regarding the aluminum house wiring, we had it in our (then) new house in
Minnesota. One evening - BANG - the fixture above the dinner table flashed.
The wire nut had come loose from the aluminum (not ALum-O-Weld) wire
junction. It was an eye-opener, to say the least. Oh, yes - I fixed it and
we finished dinner. Then I checked all of the connections in the house. Only
have copper in the house here (California).
Have a good day and 73,
Tom, N6BT
Force 12 Antennas and Systems
(Home Page http://www.QTH.com/force12 )
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