[Elecraft] KPA500 Voltage?

[Rick NK7I]

Aluminum was legal at one point, as I recall it was the 80's (copper 
prices were obscene).  It was an expensive mistake to allow aluminum wiring.

I attended some fires as a result of aluminum wire (career firefighter, 
eventually Captain).  My suspicion was that as switches and plugs were 
used, aluminum tolerated the small flexing less than copper (which 
basically self heals, molds to the connection being softer) and as it is 
exposed to air, a layer of aluminum oxide is produced (wrapping the 
internal content ) creating higher resistance.

Over time the resistance and small flexes caused arcing, that gets to a 
point that it heats; causing the excitement.

I don't have the chemistry or metallurigc background to confirm this; 
but this was the result of the cause investigation..

Adding a copper pigtail is a practical solution (cheaper than replacing 
all the wire).  Aluminum wire is not used by me, anywhere, just like the 
backstab plugs and switches (if you can't bind them down; don't use 
them).  I have seen the harm that can result and don't want to lose my 
house and possessions as I've seen others lose.

In the cost of a house or shack, copper; the small increase in cost 
reaps major benefits (and aluminum is no longer legal for new 
construction, at least when I retired).

73,
Rick nk7i


On 11/14/2022 2:25 PM, Fred Jensen wrote:
> When my younger brother was finally out of the house for good, Mom and 
> Dad bought a double-wide, sold the house in So. Central LAX, and moved 
> south into a "Mobile Estates Park" in Costa Mesa.  The wiring was Al.  
> About 3 years later, they had a problem in one of the outlets that 
> involved a small amount of smoke.  That wasn't a serious incident, but 
> Dad had to go around to each of the switches and outlets and put Cu 
> pigtails on the Al wires to connect to the devices.  I never got a 
> clear story about what caused the original problem or why this would 
> fix it.  But, I'm really wary of Al wiring in house in which we sleep.
>
> 73,
>
> Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW
> Sparks NV DM09dn
> Washoe County
>
> Lyn Norstad wrote on 11/14/2022 2:08 PM:
>> Ed -
>>
>> I cringe when I think of aluminum wiring.  I know it's currently 
>> about half
>> the price of copper, but a townhouse I lived in from 1979-1982 in 
>> Chicago
>> caught fire because of aluminum wiring and copper outlets.  In fact,
>> statistics show that 50% of home fires are due to aluminum wiring.
>>
>> Aluminum does not meet any current (pun by chance ...) building codes 
>> around
>> here.  It's all copper. Has been for at least 40 years.
>>
>> If you're stuck with aluminum (and it's legal??), be sure to 
>> liberally apply
>> antioxidant where needed.
>>
>> 73
>> Lyn, WØLEN
>>
>
>
>