Hello RBHouston,
in a typical 200 or 400 amp service, the cost difference
couldn't amount to more than a few dollars....
if you are a builder doing tract housing, the savings in say 50
-> 100 houses could become significant. and therein lies part
of the problem.... most homeowners wouldn't even THINK to check
the electrical panel in the house before they buy... as long as
the lights and heat works, who thinks about it? and in the
"short run" there probably won't be any problems.. only after
years of service, say 10?... the problem is that aluminum
expands and contracts due to heat and cold more than copper.
this tends make the connections to it become loose over time,
as those connections loosen, less and less surface area is
utilized to carry the current, which leads to heating, which
leads to melt down and fire... IF the connections are serviced
(tightened) on a regular basis, .. no problem at all, but again
who thinks to open their electrical service and tighten all
those "HOT" connections?
--
Best regards,
Bill mailto:pythias@pacifier.com
"66 Sprite
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