Copper Clad Aluminum wire: Worth using, or stay away?

 Other notes about aluminum house wire.  The devices used with Aluminum wire, were special plated to work with the Aluminum.  They would be marked Cu/Al   Better electrical supplies would still have access to these devices.

Homes built 1970 through 1976 (+/-) have the potential to be wired with Aluminum non metallic sheath cable.  Most of the housing at the time, with Aluminum, most likely, was mobile or modular homes.   Late 70's the price of copper moderated and was more available.   

Today:

You would find Aluminum used for Service entrance cable.   Also used for electric Range and electric Dryer wiring.  Out side Air conditioners, heat pumps, and electric furnaces, also may have been wired with Aluminum cable.

Larger homes with additional sub-feed panels, the sub-feed cable more than likely is aluminum. 

Surprisingly some of the new residential grade electric panels will have aluminum buss bar.   Copper buss bar or a tin plated copper buss a better deal.   IMO. 

Too bad OGR stopped selling their wire.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

RWL posted:

BTW, Steve at Ross Custome Switches recommends 18 awg for switch runs, and 16 awg for track power runs. I will not be using a buss wire. Instead, I will be using terminal blocks and more of a star pattern. I will also be using terminal blocks at each switch machine and remote actuator, so that they will be a bit easier to replace, should the need arise.

Do you agree with his recommendations? It seems reasonable to me.

I am considering 12 gauge from the transformers to the terminal blocks. Is that overkill?

I'd personally go for #14 for track power if it's going any distance, and #12 isn't really overkill, just a bit better.   As far as switch runs, it depends on the power the switch machine draws.  If you're using something tortoise switch motors, #24 is plenty, they only draw about 20ma max.  If you're using something higher power, then stepping up in size is probably warranted, but #18 seems a bit of overkill for most switch machines.

GRJ:

Thanks as always for your thoughts.  #14 and #12 for mainline track connections is understood.

In your opinion, what gauge(s) of wire would be best used for:

• O22 Switches (controller)
  
  
• O22 Switches (fixed voltage plug)
  
  
• UCS Sections
  
  
• Postwar accessories (vibrator motor, e.g., 264 forklift, 334 dispatch board, etc.)
  
  
• Postwar accessories (lights only, e.g., 195 floodlight tower, 494 beacon, etc.)
  
  
• Postwar accessories (with motor with brushes, e.g., 364 log loader, 497 coaling station, 350 transfer table, etc.)?

Finally, to someone's suggestion above, what are everyone's thoughts on using #12 for the main power lines, and something less, e.g., #16 for individual drops of less than, say, 2 feet, to be soldered to the track?

Thanks in advance for your or anyone else's thoughts.

Steven J. Serenska