Years ago, we found someone had wired an entire bedroom/bathroom addition to an existing 15-amp receptacle circuit, wired with AL. After burning-smell complaints, we investigated and found the last original receptacle box was wired with cvompletely bare wires!
We then opened the wall above this box and discovered that the wires supplying it were bare (and perfectly parallel) for about two feet up! The wire had been so hot for so long that there were no remnants of insulation to be found, as if it had vaporized.
The wires were as clean and shiny as new. It was fortunate that nobody had disturbed the receptacle. They could have moved the wires just enough to have led to arcing inside the wall. Scary!
[This message has been edited by Larry Fine (edited 08-15-2006).]
