Twister Al/Cu Wire Connectors, Purple (10-Pack)

A:  I'm the original person who asked the question. The electric wires from my box are 8 awg stranded copper. The appliance is wall oven combo LG LWC3063ST which has 10 awg silver color stranded wires. I tried to trim it a bit to see if it's actually tinned copper or aluminum but I still can't tell since the individual strands are so small to tell the core color. I attached the photo of the wires here to see if you can tell. I contact LG to see if they can confirm these are tinned copper or actually aluminum. Thanks so much for the responses.

A:  Hi Andy * AWG wire is too big for the connector. Look at the installation guide document it has all the UL Listed wire combinations the connector is rated for. As one of the community answers stated you might look at the Aluminconn connectors for your application. Hope that helped Ron at ron.kipper@idealindustries.com

A:  The specification for the wirenut is a maximum of 1 #10 solid aluminum with 2 # 12 solid copper conductors. The minimum is 1 # 12 aluminum with 1 #18 copper. My opinion is not to use this size. If you know an electrician, ask them. If not, visit your local electrical supply for assistance. I have only seen # 8 wire clamped into a circuit breaker or joined to another wire with a "bug" that is then wrapped with rubber tape.

A:  According to the size guide no they would not handle 8cu & 10al. I checked alumiconns they are more of a lug for each wire but they only go to 10 awg The only thing I know that will is Polaris connectors these have a massive range I have some at work that I may have purchased at Home Depot but make sure to get aluminum rated ones not all Polaris are. I think they were for 6 awg to 14 aluminum or copper a bit spendy but will do it. Why is your copper larger than the aluminum ? It is usually the other way around .

A:  Minimum wire capacity: 1 #12 Al with 1 #18 Cu Maximum wire capacity: 1 #10 Al solid with 2 #10 Cu solid You give very few details on your oven connection, but I am assuming the #10 aluminum stranded is the house wiring you want to connect the #8 copper wiring to because appliances has never come from the factory with aluminum wiring. Are you sure it isn't #10 tinned copper that looks like aluminum? First of all, there is no #10 stranded aluminum wire and never was so you have the size or type of wire wrong. Assuming you do have #10 aluminum wire, it is only rated at 20 amps. Assuming the range has #8 copper conductors the range likely requires a 30 to 40 amp circuit. I would suggest you check that wire again and I'll bet you will find it is tinned copper and not aluminum. Try cutting 1/4" off the end of the conductor and inspect the ends and I am sure you'll see the fresh cut copper. By the way, the Ideal Twister AL/CU wire nuts are only good for a temporary copper to aluminum connection, they are not approved by the Consumer Product Safety Commission as a permanent means of connecting copper and aluminum wires.

A:  I can clear up your confusion with this product, DO NOT USE THEM! This product has an extremely high failure rate on Al/Cu connections and is not approved by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission. The only DIY termination connector for Al/Cu conductors that is approved by the CPSC is the AlumiConn connector also available at Home Depot. Google CPSC Publication 516 for details.

A:  Hmm.. We did use them. They work fine. Check this one https://images.homedepot-static.com/catalog/pdfImages/10/103554aa-7d4e-48b1-846d-0ccd4433785e.pdf

A:  Icardou sorry for the confusion you have to look at page 7 only for these connectors. It shows the copper to copper and copper to aluminum UL Listed wire combinations for the AL/CU Purple twister wire connector. Hope that helps Ron at ron.kipper@idealindustries.com

A:  You are correct that these wire nuts are for copper/aluminum connections. You may have a misprint in your instructions. These nuts are manufactured with aluminum grease inside. The purpose is to maintain a conductive environment. Years ago, when aluminum wiring was used in home electrical systems, it was discovered that high amperage loads caused greater expansion of the wire than what was seen with copper wiring. The end result is that connections at switches, outlets, and wire connectors loosened. The result was high heat due to increased resistance and fires. The purple wire nuts coat the wires in aluminum grease. If there is expansion/contraction at the connector, the connection is much safer because the grease is filling any gaps between the wires and maintains a complete connection with low resistance. Finally, why would anyone buy these $2 or more connectors for copper wiring when a 25 cent connector is perfectly adequate?

A:  The package should have the instructions, for example cu/al combinations . From my box 1#10 solid al connects to 2 solid 10 cu , or more likely 1 al 10 to 2 12 copper. 2 solid al 12 to 1 solid cu. they can be used copper to aluminum, they are single use. These values are for twister al/cu #18-#10 awg

A:  It is a proprietary blend by various manufactures. But generally speaking, it is a paste composed of petroleum distillates and zinc flecks designed to coat the wiring connection to form an air-tight seal, thus inhibiting the formation of oxides. Unlike regular wire nuts, these "twisters" are designed to be used once and then left in place. I've found them a little more forgiving than that. I've had the old aluminum wires break in the process and then redo the connection with the same nut (since they are expensive little buggers). If it doesn't cooperate the second time, I use a new one. The point being that the wires need to be thoroughly coated. I'll even smear the stuff from the failed connection back onto the fresh one. Most of the time they go on fine. I like to pre-twist my connections even though the package and some electricians do not consider this mandatory. Werner

A:  Hi Mark it is a patented formula so I really can't say other than it is an anti-oxidant. Ron at ron.kipper@idealindustries.com

A:  nolox /deox

A:  Noalox compound or its equivalent.

A:  Ideal won't say exactly what the compound is, but it appears to support combustion when these connectors burn up. If you want a reliable copper to aluminum or aluminum to aluminum connection, use the AlumiConn connectors that Home Depot also sells.

A:  Yes it does the part # is 30-265. Ron at ron.kipper@idealindustries.com

A:  no use nolox / deox in a standard wire nut it the same thing

A:  Not that I've seen.

A:  I believe they are available from some sources in a 100 pack, but considering the high failure rate of these connectors, I would recommend the AlumiConn connector, the only connector approved by the US Consumer Product Safety commission for a DIYer to use for a permanent connection and/or repair.

A:  Steve70- I just Googled these connectors to see if they are available in a 100 pack, and did not see them available through Home Depot, however, they are listed in a 100 pack on Ideal's website, and appear from different internet sources in quantities of 15, 75 and 100. However, this Al/Cu study report also came up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezp3hmauaA0. Bottom line is that this study recommends "Copalum" (seems pricey but bulletproof) or Alumiconn connectors (more reasonable unless you go for the gold-plated torque screwdriver) for Al/Cu applications.