Is it worth it to change aluminum wiring to copper and how to do it right

Electric networks are an object of increased danger and their condition must be constantly carefully monitored. Often, a fire is caused by worn or inappropriate power consumption. To avoid this, regular diagnosis of her condition and, if necessary, to complete its full or partial replacement.

Wiring in an apartment and a house - which is better? The cable with which material lived better - aluminum or copper? When installing electrical wiring in the apartment, conductors (wires and cables) made of aluminum and copper are suitable. But is it really important what they are made of? Is it worth changing the aluminum wiring to copper? Maybe you can leave it as it is and not touch anything?

This article will cover the following issues:

• Service life of aluminum and copper wiring;

• Why change aluminum wiring to copper and in what cases it must be done immediately;

• Is there an option for open laying new wiring and what are the disadvantages of this method;

• The main stages when replacing wiring in an apartment or house;

• Why all work related to dismantling and laying new wiring should be performed by qualified electricians.

Cables with aluminum conductors were actively used for wiring in old buildings. Modern building standards and electrical safety standards require the use of wires with copper conductors.

Direct connection of aluminum and copper wires is prohibited. Such an installation scheme will cause accelerated oxidation of the wiring.

If you plan to overhaul real estate, any experienced electrician will strongly recommend a complete replacement of aluminum wiring with copper.

Reasons to replace aluminum wiring

Regardless of the material used for the manufacture, the wiring becomes unusable over time. Manufacturers note that the service life of wires with aluminum conductors does not exceed 25 years, while copper products can last 5-10 years longer. In other words, scheduled repair work should begin about 20-30 years after the completion of a comprehensive electrical installation.

Proceed to the replacement of wiring is necessary in the case of:

1. Planned electrical work. The condition of the electric network in this case can be assessed at a satisfactory level.

2. Destruction of insulation, which is accompanied by heating and melting of aluminum wires.

3. Breakage of electrical wiring. This process leads to areas of current leakage.

4. Increased risk of short circuit due to cable breakage and insulation failure.

5. Ignition of the wiring site, a characteristic feature of which is sparking and an unpleasant odor.

6. Frequent tripping of circuit breakers and residual current circuit breakers.

7. Regular power outages for no apparent reason.

8. Installing powerful equipment for which the old wiring is not designed.

A complete replacement of the wiring in a hidden way will be appropriate if the homeowner is planning a major overhaul of the premises. The open method of laying cables in electrotechnical plastic channels is a fairly simple, profitable and dust-free type of installation work, which does not require removal of finishing materials. That's just the safety level of such electrical wiring is much lower when compared with its hidden counterpart.

Wiring Replacement Steps

Before starting to replace the wires, you should carefully study their characteristic features and recommendations regarding installation. Aluminum wiring is characterized by increased thermal conductivity, while copper wires have improved heat dissipation.

Cable specifications also depend on the cross section and insulation used in their production. Similar characteristics are selected by the master taking into account the calculated norms of electricity consumption, power of connected devices and electrical installation conditions.

For example, in rooms with high humidity and a large amount of installed powerful equipment, double-insulated cables of non-combustible type (NG) with a cross section of 4 mm2 should be used.

Replacing aluminum wiring with copper consists of the following steps:

1. Preparation for electrical work. It is necessary to carefully examine the object, check the status of electrical components and calculate the future load on the network.

2. Designing a project. A qualified electrician performs design taking into account the parameters of future equipment placement. We will have to note places for installing electrical points, lighting equipment and powerful household appliances.

3. Drawing up a detailed estimate and the purchase of the necessary materials. It is recommended to buy cables with a solid rigid core. For outlet groups, a cross section of 2.5 mm2 is suitable. Complete with lighting fixtures, wires with a cross section of 1.5 mm2 are installed. For powerful household appliances, cables with a cross section of 4 mm2 or more are suitable. In addition, you will have to buy RCDs, automatic machines, installation boxes and other accessories.

4. Wiring. When installing a hidden electrical wiring, the walls are gated. Open wiring is placed in the cable channels. At this stage, you can also install electrical components (subzetics, switches, wiring boxes).

5. Connect a new line. Particular attention is paid to the procedure for connecting wires. Before closing the electrical channels it is recommended to test the equipment. In the event of a malfunction, it will be extremely difficult to get to the wire, which is located in the stroba under several layers of finishing materials.

Replacing worn-out aluminum wiring with copper will avoid numerous problems and reduce the risk of accidents. It is not necessary to dismantle the old wires, but they must not come into contact with the new wiring.

The worn-out electrical wiring is necessarily disconnected from the power source. Work related to the dismantling and laying of wires must be carried out by highly qualified private specialists or organizations with the appropriate permissions to provide services in the field of electrical installation.

The new wiring diagram is developed by an electrician taking into account the wishes of the employer and the parameters of the connected equipment. After the completion of the planned work, the customer must necessarily receive official guarantees from the electrician.

See also on this topic:Rules for wiring - how to make installation in compliance with the rules and regulations