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Wiring Question
#1
Quite a regular
Quite a regular

DaveJr
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Looking to do some rewiring on my 49 Custom. I see when I'm shopping for wire online a lot of wire I'm finding is copper clad aluminum. It's much cheaper than the pure copper. Is there a reason why I shouldnt use the copper clad aluminum?
I"m a wiring novice.

Posted on: 9/30 13:45
Dave Adams
Goddard KS

1949 Custom Touring Sedan
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Re: Wiring Question
#2
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Packard Don
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I would buy a proper reproduction harness from YnZ’s Yesterdays Parts. They cost more than the others but well-worth it and they have excellent customer service. If using aluminum, you will need much larger wire sizes and not really the way to go.

Posted on: 9/30 14:20
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Re: Wiring Question
#3
Quite a regular
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DaveJr
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Thank Don. That's really what I was thinking. It's my inclination to go back as close to original as possible.

Posted on: 9/30 14:57
Dave Adams
Goddard KS

1949 Custom Touring Sedan
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Re: Wiring Question
#4
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humanpotatohybrid
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Would have been copper or tinned copper originally. Aluminum can have a chemical reaction with copper (i.e. copper terminals) resulting in a poor connection.

By the way, the wire size is not much larger. But it could make the harness as a whole a bit too thick.

Posted on: 9/30 15:00
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Re: Wiring Question
#5
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Packard Don
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In AC wiring, the rule of thumb is to always use a gauge larger if using aluminum. Maybe that does not apply to DC but it would seem strange that it doesn’t.

Posted on: 9/30 15:03
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Re: Wiring Question
#6
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DaveJr
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I've heard that too about aluminum wiring. I think it's just going to be a better idea to pay the extra and get the proper pure copper.

Posted on: 9/30 19:20
Dave Adams
Goddard KS

1949 Custom Touring Sedan
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Re: Wiring Question
#7
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BigKev
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I'd go all copper. There's a reason they stopped using aluminum in new construction.

Posted on: 9/30 19:51
-BigKev


1954 Packard Clipper Deluxe Touring Sedan -> Registry | Project Blog

1937 Packard 115-C Convertible Coupe -> Registry | Project Blog
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Re: Wiring Question
#8
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humanpotatohybrid
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Quote:

Packard Don wrote:
In AC wiring, the rule of thumb is to always use a gauge larger if using aluminum. Maybe that does not apply to DC but it would seem strange that it doesn’t.


Yes that's basically correct. One standard gauge size (which is 2 gauge) larger is roughly 25% more capacity.

Posted on: 9/30 20:09
1955 400 | Registry | Project Blog
1955 Clipper Deluxe | Registry | Project Blog
1955 Clipper Super Panama | Registry
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