Evening all.
I've been working on an early 70's house the last 2 days - 1st fix for a lighting alteration, plus minor remedial work on the ring. I decommissioned the old lights and switches, ran the new cables, then connected into the existing wiring with wagoboxes. Stripping the sheath from the old cable by pulling the cpc with my snips, i couldn't work out why I kept nipping the end off the cpc. Closer inspection revealed why - I was working with copperclad aluminium twin and earth, the first time I have come across it.
Too late to go back at this point, I finished the lighting, then did the work on the ring. A wall had been removed between the kitchen and lounge, so 2 sockets hanging in mid air had to be decommissioned - for this I used wagoboxes with wago221's.
The circuits tested out fine continuity wise. IR was on the low side but I hadn't unplugged everything at that point, so will have to have a closer look at that tomorrow. The lighting T+E was 1mm, and the ring was wired in 4mm. No evidence of any problems.
How problematic is this stuff? I gather that it's not as bad as pure aluminium cables (have come across these before), but how important is it that circuits with copperclad aluminium are rewired? My clients have the plasterer booked in for Saturday, then the kitchen is being replaced shortly after that. They aren't wealthy people, so both time and budget is limited.
I've been working on an early 70's house the last 2 days - 1st fix for a lighting alteration, plus minor remedial work on the ring. I decommissioned the old lights and switches, ran the new cables, then connected into the existing wiring with wagoboxes. Stripping the sheath from the old cable by pulling the cpc with my snips, i couldn't work out why I kept nipping the end off the cpc. Closer inspection revealed why - I was working with copperclad aluminium twin and earth, the first time I have come across it.
Too late to go back at this point, I finished the lighting, then did the work on the ring. A wall had been removed between the kitchen and lounge, so 2 sockets hanging in mid air had to be decommissioned - for this I used wagoboxes with wago221's.
The circuits tested out fine continuity wise. IR was on the low side but I hadn't unplugged everything at that point, so will have to have a closer look at that tomorrow. The lighting T+E was 1mm, and the ring was wired in 4mm. No evidence of any problems.
How problematic is this stuff? I gather that it's not as bad as pure aluminium cables (have come across these before), but how important is it that circuits with copperclad aluminium are rewired? My clients have the plasterer booked in for Saturday, then the kitchen is being replaced shortly after that. They aren't wealthy people, so both time and budget is limited.
