Originally Posted by
Jim Neeley
Alimonum wire has a much larger thermal expansion coefficient than copper. The resulting deforming of the wire during heating and shrinkage of the wire during cooling has been traced to many house fires. Quite a number of years ago in Alaska aluminum wiring was outlawed and I remember hearing the trend was speading nationwide but I have no idea how far or how fast it went.
As for me, I'd look hard at replacing the aluminum with copper, but YMMV.
Jim Neeley, EE