[Message edited by Webmaster for Political content]
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As for using aluminum instead of copper for common branch circuits: forget it. They ARE abused -- count on it.
Aluminum is a hands down winner when ever it is assured that ONLY able and careful will touch it -- or extend its loads.
Otherwise, it has been shown that the average man will burn himself down. Only copper is so forgiving as to suffer homeowner DIY and leave anything standing.
The fantastic forgiveness of copper is assumed by all laymen to extend to aluminum. It is NOT so.
Even at todays prices, copper is still a bargain for homeowners and more. It's premium price offsets the idiocy factor of 'self-help' making it still the only way to go.
BTW, there is no shortage of copper: just cheap copper from old mines.
It is the maddening leaps in price that are driving contractors nuts. This will settle down pretty soon. It's down right amazing how demand fades when prices tripple.
[This message has been edited by Webmaster (edited 05-07-2006).]
