Ally wiring

[gnselectricals]

Anyone know when ally was used domestically I think it's it's 2nd WW era so around 40's-50's is it ?
Definitely ally as well not tinned etc

Cheers

 

[benji]

Don,t know about domestic but can remember using it in industrial power cabling in early 60s due to copper shortage

 

[Richard Burns]

Around about 1950s into the early '60s and then again briefly in the early '70s. In almost all cases it was found to be inappropriate to use.
The cable sizes need to be so much larger and the cables are not stable and crack easily.
The minimum csa of aluminium cable now is 16mm² for fixed wiring so would be easy to spot in that lighting circuit!

 

[7029 dave]

It was widely used in the 1970's, due to the copper crisis at that time.

 

[gnselectricals]

Oh thought it was much earlier. Bit surprised to find it on a socket circuit must have been a fault on the ring as its been split circuit tested ok though. Only seen it once before in lighting and that wasn't too bad, in a holiday chalet tho so only light use, excuse the pun haha. Will recommend full Rewire to be safe tho [emoji763]

 

[7029 dave]

Are you sure, it could be tinned copper.?

 

[HandySparks]

Are you sure, it could be tinned copper.?

The OP's clearly thought of that possibility:

Anyone know when ally was used domestically I think it's it's 2nd WW era so around 40's-50's is it ?
Definitely ally as well not tinned etc

It's not common, but it is around. I found some on a cooker circuit in a house that had copper on all the other circuits.

 

[davesparks]

Oh thought it was much earlier. Bit surprised to find it on a socket circuit must have been a fault on the ring as its been split circuit tested ok though. Only seen it once before in lighting and that wasn't too bad, in a holiday chalet tho so only light use, excuse the pun haha. Will recommend full Rewire to be safe tho [emoji763]

A full rewire is a bit of an overreaction isn't it? As long as it's in good condition that's not necessary, and assuming you are making my terminations you do properly with barrier grease or other means of preventing it from reacting with brass terminals etc then it'll be ok

 

[7029 dave]

So he did. Forgive Forgive.

 

[Hellmooth]

I came across it in a recent rewire, really bulky stuff, was cracking all over the place as well.

 

[gnselectricals]

A full rewire is a bit of an overreaction isn't it? As long as it's in good condition that's not necessary, and assuming you are making my terminations you do properly with barrier grease or other means of preventing it from reacting with brass terminals etc then it'll be ok

Ha waited nearly all day for a bite ! Was a joke, will mention to owner but tbh it was in pretty good condition.
Gotta pop back next week to change a socket so will find some magic paste for then.

 

[gnselectricals]

I came across it in a recent rewire, really bulky stuff, was cracking all over the place as well.

Yeah did seem a bit bulkier thought a 2.5 was 4mm when I was crawling round the attic

 

[davesparks]

Ha waited nearly all day for a bite ! Was a joke, will mention to owner but tbh it was in pretty good condition.
Gotta pop back next week to change a socket so will find some magic paste for then.

I would have thought Vaseline would do the job, but I'd wait for someone more knowledgeable to confirm.

 

[davesparks]

I came across it in a recent rewire, really bulky stuff, was cracking all over the place as well.

What was cracking? The sheath/insulation or the conductors?

 

[Hellmooth]

What was cracking? The sheath/insulation or the conductors?

Sheath, although concrete/plaster of some sort had been around it at some point so may have been to do with that!