A Copalum Crimp Connector is shown in the graphic below. A Copalum Crimp connector has many uses, this example shows a splice to an AC line. This Copalum splice is used to splice aluminum wire to copper wire before connection to the AC receptacle.  In short Aluminum wire expands at a different rate than copper wire which leads to aluminum wires detaching from the wire nuts on AC receptacles. The Copalum crimp connector crimps the aluminum and copper wires together, forcing a good connection. The cooper wire pigtail than extends to the AC outlet to make a connection. Note; Aluminum branch wires were used in houses between 1965 and 1973. The Consumer Product Safety Commission [CPSC] recommends the Copalum connection [over other alternatives like pigtalling via a twist-on wire nut]. COPALUM terminals work with aluminum-to-aluminum and aluminum-to-copper stripped wire applications, terminating stripped, stranded and solid (round or rectangular) aluminum and copper
conductors Back to the Dictionary of Engineering Terms [on the companion site] Types of Wire Splices [Companion site]; |