Aluminum wire

[fishon1213]

I recently purchased a 16' aluminum boat that has been stripped and partially put back together. The wiring and plumbing have been roughed in under the aluminum floor that is riveted down. There is tinned copper marine wire for all of the accessories but the wire from the battery location to the console for fuse panel is 8 gauge stranded aluminum. To replace it would involve taking out the console, drilling a ton of rivets, and taking out the entire floor. The wire is brand new, and will handle the current, but it's aluminum. Again, all accessory wire is proper marine tinned, but main wire from battery to fuse panel is 8 gauge aluminum. Will it corrode or what will happen?

 

[fhhuber]

It will corrode faster than marine grade wire.
Faster is a relative term and means the stuff might last a long time.... it may not. Saltwater will make it corrode faster. Keeping it dry will make it corrode slower.

If it needs replacement, you can route new differently and just retire the bad wire in place.

I've often wondered why they don't run the wires in a conduit to make pulling the bad wires and running replacements easier...

 

[Scott Danforth]

Aluminum has lower current carrying capacity than copper. Can you use the wire to pull a tinned copper conductor thru?

 

[gm280]

Are you absolutely sure it is aluminum and not tinned copper which can look like aluminum? I ask that question because I have never ever seen 8 gauge stranded aluminum wire. House wire, usually the lead in from the meter, is most always stranded aluminum, but that is like 4/0 gauges as well. Just wondering. :noidea:

 

[fishon1213]

Unfortunately I would not be able to pull new wire without removing the floor and console. From what I can read on the wire it is RHH RHW-2 USE-2 8 gauge sunlight resistant and is definitely aluminum. If I choose to use it should I use aluminum or copper ring terminals for the ends?

 

[fishon1213]

Also it will not be exposed to saltwater

 

[fishon1213]

So, if I choose to use it should I use aluminum ring terminals?

 

[fhhuber]

Yes, use aluminum terminals on aluminum wire.

Wherever you transition to a different metal will exhibit faster corrosion.

 

[gm280]

They do make connectors that allow aluminum in one end and copper in the other. Check the box stores like Lowe's, HD and such to see if they have some of those transition type connectors.

Knowing me, I would do whatever it took, to remove that aluminum wire and install the proper wiring. JMHO

 

[bruceb58]

Knowing me, I would do whatever it took, to remove that aluminum wire and install the proper wiring. JMHO

Me too...there is absolutely no way I would have a hunk of aluminum wire in a boat.

 

[Grandad]

It sounds to me that someone has found some surplus cable from a construction site. Aluminum cable would not be my choice and especially not this cable that likely has a "compacted" construction. Compacted stranded wire has been squeezed such that the outer surface strands have a flattened cross-section. It is stiffer than other stranded wires and won't tolerate vibration as well. That said, in construction it's approved for use as Underground Service Entrance cable and used therefor in damp conditions without incident. If you want to leave it in place, I recommend that you apply a product such as Noalox to prevent corrosion. It's a messy grease designed specifically to protect aluminum cables. http://www.homedepot.com/p/Ideal-NOALOX-4-oz-Anti-Oxidant-Compound-30-026/202276208

 

[fishon1213]

Well I used the boat for one season, never used the roughed in aluminum wire. I wasn't happy with the floor plan so I'm disassembling the boat and will run proper wire.