[dmbaile2]

1970s house with aluminum wiring.

Currently in the middle of Alumiconn pigtail installation.

I have a 4 gang switch box that would require 4 alumiconns alone for the ground wire.

Would it be acceptable to place a grounding bus bar in the box? This would take up less space and be less expensive.

Square D terminal ground bars are rated for aluminum wire, and even rated for two wires per port. This would save me a lot of room in the box for grounding purposes.

My question is, is it against code to have a floating ground bus bar in a 4 gang box?

 

[Wiredindallas]

You might consider using a purple wire nut for the grounds only. I have been told they are not up approved, but the grounds have no load and that is when problems are created.

 

[dmbaile2]

If I were going to do something unapproved I would twist multiple ground wires into a single alumicon port. I think this would probably be more reliable than a ideal wire nut however, it is against manif. instructions.

 

[ServiceCall]

You can use a ground bar but I would mount it to the box. That way the box is also grounded (if metal) without an additional wire.

 

[Jim Port]

Add one copper to the Alumi-Conn. Leave it long to catch all 4 devices or splice copper to copper for the devices.

 

[dmbaile2]

Doesn't the ground in each of the 8 pieces of romex need to be connected? The only way I can figure to do this with alumiconns is to place two aluminum wires and one copper wire in a three port alumiconn, I would have to do this 4 times and then wire-nut the copper ground together while running a single copper wire to catch the box and all of the switches. I could accomplish the same thing with a 5 port ground bar.

 

[Jim Port]

The copper can all be spliced and one go to the Alumi-conn.

 

[dmbaile2]

Maybe we are misunderstanding each-other. I have 8 aluminum romex cables coming into the box with all 8 of the aluminum ground wires twisted together.

Wouldn't a proper installation dictate that each of the 8 aluminum ground wires be terminated into an alumiconn?

 

[ServiceCall]

Maybe we are misunderstanding each-other. I have 8 aluminum romex cables coming into the box with all 8 of the aluminum ground wires twisted together.



Wouldn't a proper installation dictate that each of the 8 aluminum ground wires be terminated into an alumiconn?

You could use a ground bar or also try a split bolt.