- Author
- Laug, O. B.
- Title
- Evaluation of Selected Connectors for Aluminum Wire in Residential Structures. Final Report.
- Coporate
- National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, MD
- Sponsor
- Consumer Product Safety Commission, Bethesda, MD
- Report
- NBSIR 76-1039, March 1976, 37 p.
- Distribution
- Available from National Technical Information Service
- Keywords
- electric wire | residential buildings
- Abstract
- Systems of connecting aluminum wire for possible use in receptacle outlets and elsewhere in 15 and 20 ampere branch circuits in residences are available as practical alternatives to the presently used mechanisms such as the wire binding screw and the twist-on "wire nut" connector. The alternative systems are based on the principle of high deformation of the wire in the connection to achieve more permanent metal-to-metal fittings and/or wire splice devices of several designs. They involve either crimping the device around the wire or swaging the wire into the device with special tools. Based on tests, basic connection performance of several high-deformation connectors has been established. The results indicate that certain designs of connectors operate with stability and without dangerously over-heating under accelerated laboratory tests. The tools, however, to be used to crimp terminals are not only bulky and awkward to use but quite expensive. Moreover, they must be correctly coordinated with the terminals and sizes of wires used. There is danger that a misadjusted or improper tool and/or terminal may be used with particular wire or wires which could result in a poor connection. Some improvements in the design of the assembly tools and in the devices themselves would reduce certain installlation difficulties encountered during testing, and certain connectors could be slightly modified to avoid human errors during assembly. Use of these systems and conformance with established codes and standards do not appear to present major problems.