aluminum service connect

must428

Replaced old copper service with aluminum service 60-amp this old meter has the old style hot water meter next to main meter with a jump wire feeding the hot-water meter main. The new aluminum has to go into the same lug as the hot water meter copper feed. Question? Should I just change service back to copper or can the aluminum and copper stay on the same lug First time I have come across this.

Jim Port

Unless the lug is rated for two conductors you cannot install more than one wire in it.

Why are you upgrading the water heater service instead of the house service?

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Answers based on the National Electrical Code. Local amendments may apply. Check with your local building officials.

nap

the lug would have to be rated for 2 conductors and rated for having both metals installed together. I am not sure I am understanding what you have but it sounds like basically a meter and the lugs are in the meter base. If so, I do not know of any lugs rated for 2 conductors and have never seen one rated for both aluminum and copper conductors in the same lug

frenchelectrican

I just want to make sure I am reading this right you replace the service entrance conductors and did you upgrade the service size or kept at the old 60 amp rating?

Due the old waterheater circuits they are wired for either 20 or 30 amp capacity depending on the control circuits and conductors and the old water heater meters they are pretty much histroy now.

Now to answer your question about copper et alum in one lug the answer is no majtory of resdential meter socket are not rated for two conductors at all unless you got a lug that rated for two conductors { that useally found in 400 amp meter socket or larger }

Merci,Marc

must428

Yes this is the original meter can back then they had two on one lug that was the way it was when I opened it and it was original wire never touched in 50yrs. Weird back then I guess.
I looked at another house same time period same thing. One for the hot water meter one for the house meter. Was this way all this time no problem, service wire outside just aged thats why I opened it, inside box great shape for the age. Thats why I ask the question about alum on copper I know thats a no-no but the system did have the copper service wire and the hot from that going to feed the hot water meter. I ran the new aluminum service before I opened it saw how they did it back then, thats when I saw this two on one it is a large lug opening made for it. Guess best thing go back to copper.

Jim Port

If your socket has lay-in ligs they are for one conductor only, even if both wires are the same material.

Some sockets will allow two individual lugs on the same stud.

__________________
Answers based on the National Electrical Code. Local amendments may apply. Check with your local building officials.