Connect copper and aluminium electric wire

[Max Brok]

Soon I have to connect my house from the meter to the connection on the roof outside. I bought two wires copper 30 mtrs 16 square mm and half way a pole of 8 mtrs high. The wire on the roof going inside is multi core aluminium. I noticed in a technical sheet an copper aluminium connection is not allowed because corrosion. How I can connect it safe?

[KannikaP]

Do it the Thai way. Twist the wires together and wrap with lots of black tape.

[SomchaiDIY]

39 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

Do it the Thai way. Twist the wires together and wrap with lots of black tape.

or can do other thai way with bimetal clamp / crimp
 

 

[xylophone]

1 hour ago, Max Brok said:

The wire on the roof going inside is multi core aluminium.

Is this the feed to your Distribution Board??

[Max Brok]

17 minutes ago, xylophone said:

Is this the feed to your Distribution Board??

Yes

 

17 minutes ago, xylophone said:

Is this the feed to your Distribution Board??

 

[kennw]

1 hour ago, KannikaP said:

Do it the Thai way. Twist the wires together and wrap with lots of black tape.

In truth you cant, they are diss-similar metals and galvanic corrosion is the problem

[KannikaP]

3 minutes ago, kennw said:

In truth you cant, they are diss-similar metals and galvanic corrosion is the problem

I know that it is not possible unless your name is Somchai. 555

[xylophone]

13 minutes ago, Max Brok said:

Yes

 

 

Well in my day running aluminium cable into the copper clamp/insert on the distribution board was a no-no, and special connectors had to be used which would hold the aluminium cable and allow a small length of copper cable to be connected and then used to connect to the distribution board (for example).

 

That's my take on it, however you would be better off asking someone like @Crossy or the other guys here who are more up-to-date with regulations etc.
 

[NoDisplayName]

the wire at the pole is probably aluminum also.

why not use a section of aluminum cable between the two aluminum cables?

[Jumbo1968]

We used apply a paste when we joined them, no idea what was called. Use a straight through connector and providing they are not touching there shouldn’t be a problem,

[Rick Farang]

Twisting the wires together is what they guys from the electricity authority did when they ran a new cable to my house. Upon hearing this I called my electrician, who was out of two during the small emergency and who returned. He brought a bimetal crimp, antioxidant paste and a huge crimper. Now I am confident it will last dozens of years of more.

 

And yes they installed aluminum and charged us for copper.

[Crossy]

3 hours ago, Rick Farang said:

He brought a bimetal crimp, antioxidant paste and a huge crimper. Now I am confident it will last dozens of years of more.

 

This!!!

 

[mikesil]

Nothing to kid about.

Main problem is difference in coefficients of expansion.  As temperature varies over the years, tightly twisted wires work their way apart and start to arc across. Five to ten years and you've got yourself a fire.

Some company markets a device that splices wires under tremendous pressure, enough to cold weld them.  Also, you can buy special wall sockets, wall switches etc. that have a "CO/ALR" rating.  The screw terminals look like regular copper but supposedly you can hook on an aluminum wire.

[NORDO]

There are several copper to Aluminum connectors, splices and clamps that are designed specifically for this type of connection.   Just wrapping the wires together will complete the circuit, however it will also cause a breakdown of connectivity eventually and could possibly lead to other detrimental issues.

[The Old Bull]

You can buy an anti oxidant ,it comes in a tube like toothpaste. I had no luck explaining this to a Thai electrician so I brought some from Canada where you can buy it in any electrical shop.

[sammieuk1]

Not sure if this is useful but last year bought a house in HH paid for meter to be installed at deposit stage

months went by no meter no bill then the village wanted me to pay some bill that my cables were connected to

 

I refused no meter no bill end of story next PEA arrived to install meter then refused due to the wrong mains cable being installed more free electric for me then a week later a copper heavy weight cable arrived and two guys to pull it in through existing trunk or dig up paths two days it took to complete.

 

All looked good no damage cable changed pea arrived to connect meter  job done but where the cable comes out of the outside wall to the meter they striped all the armor and insulation off leaving the last 1m into the meter with an uninsulated brown and blue wire Pea said it was fine but looking at every other house on the estate mine seems the only one with the last 1m exposed time will tell it looks like a cowboy job to me ????  

[Grumpy one]

20 hours ago, KannikaP said:

Do it the Thai way. Twist the wires together and wrap with lots of black tape.

Black or any colour tape is not the Thai way.

Just twist wires together, quicker and cheaper

[KannikaP]

2 minutes ago, Grumpy one said:

Black or any colour tape is not the Thai way.

Just twist wires together, quicker and cheaper

My sparky must have been good then, he used tape.

[Crossy]

As noted earlier, these are the chaps you need https://www.lazada.co.th/products/gtl-16-gtl-25-gtl-35-gtl-10-compression-copper-aluminum-cu-al-tube-bimetallic-crimp-terminal-cable-wire-connector-splice-sleeve-i4435668268-s17778761147.html? along with the correct crimp tool.

 

Complete the job with adhesive-lined heatshrink and you're good for many years.

 

[Max Brok]

21 hours ago, SomchaiDIY said:

or can do other thai way with bimetal clamp / crimp
 

 

Thanks for this tip

[Max Brok]

17 minutes ago, Crossy said:

As noted earlier, these are the chaps you need https://www.lazada.co.th/products/gtl-16-gtl-25-gtl-35-gtl-10-compression-copper-aluminum-cu-al-tube-bimetallic-crimp-terminal-cable-wire-connector-splice-sleeve-i4435668268-s17778761147.html? along with the correct crimp tool.

 

Complete the job with adhesive-lined heatshrink and you're good for many years.

 

Thanks, this will be the best solution but now a suitable krimp tool could be the problem. Need only one time. I will look how much this will cost

[brianthainess]

22 hours ago, KannikaP said:

Do it the Thai way. Twist the wires together and wrap with lots of black tape.

Illegal on new builds

[brianthainess]

18 hours ago, Rick Farang said:

Twisting the wires together is what they guys from the electricity authority did when they ran a new cable to my house.

That has been illegal for a number of years Our house was started late 2016 finished  early 2017 PEA would not sign off the house until the twisted wires were replaced with clamps quite a few rules changed in that time underground cables must copper double insulated cable.

[ThaiFelix]

22 hours ago, KannikaP said:

Do it the Thai way. Twist the wires together and wrap with lots of black tape.

Black tape?  wow thats innovative!

[Crossy]

22 minutes ago, Max Brok said:

Thanks, this will be the best solution but now a suitable krimp tool could be the problem. Need only one time. I will look how much this will cost

 

Not stupid money, but a bit of an investment for just a couple of joints 

https://www.lazada.co.th//products/i2375968786-s8049639239.html

 

 

 

Or ask at your PEA office, many of the PEA chaps will moonlight for very nominal fees.

 

 

[KannikaP]

45 minutes ago, Crossy said:

Not stupid money, but a bit of an investment for just a couple of joints

Also available at PrikPot.   555

[AgMech Cowboy]

On 4/13/2023 at 12:08 PM, SomchaiDIY said:

or can do other thai way with bimetal clamp / crimp
 

 

I don't think anyone below your comment bothered to read it...  or they just had to show their "credentials" of ignorance, except for Crossy.  I was waiting for his input.

(I wish he'd line up some good certified Thai "sparky's" he would recommend to fix our problems professionally) Hint, Hint

Edited April 15, 2023 by AgMech Cowboy

[DaLa]

Metallurgist here.

 

Copper and Aluminium are quite apart on the galvanic scale. However they need an electrolyte for problems to emerge.

 

1. Why not use Copper throughout

2. If dissimilar metals are used enclose the connector to protect from oxygen and water

3. If using copper + copper don’t use an aluminium clamp.

4. Galvanise the Aluminium at the joint.

 

You would need to be more concerned if it was Aluminium and Stainless Steel.

 

Maybe the 18th Edition BS 7671 Requirements for Electrical Installations. IET Wiring Regulations will help with your decision.

[sometimewoodworker]

1 hour ago, DaLa said:

1. Why not use Copper throughout

Double the cost!!!

[Road Warrior]

On 4/13/2023 at 11:26 AM, KannikaP said:

Do it the Thai way. Twist the wires together and wrap with lots of black tape.

or the other thai WAY -JUST TWIST Wires TOGETHER ,thats it !!!