[A/S] Re: Aluminum wire

["Philip Piper" <pmpiper@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Andy, I have excerpted a post written by Gerald J., our resident 
Electrical Engineer;

"I've considered that the looseness of single strand aluminum wires 
comes from the differential expansion between the wire and the brass 
screw. As the wire heats, aluminum expands more than brass but since 
the brass screw retains it the aluminum has to spread at right angles 
to the screw pressure. Then when the assembly cools the aluminum 
shrinks in all directions and the screw is loose. Next time there's a 
load it heats a lot faster and repeats the deformation. All together 
a bad idea, "bad scene", fires and shocks including deaths result 
when the ground wire looses its connection. Been there, done that as 
an expert witness. Had to explain deaths to parents.

Gerald J... "