16 hours ago, HARO50 said:

They wouldn't be using aluminum wire, would they? And would it actually make a difference?

John

 

I believe aluminum wire is to brittle to be used in an extension cord.  

2 hours ago, HandyDan said:

 

I believe aluminum wire is to brittle to be used in an extension cord.  

Maybe pot metal, then?

John

Aluminum isn't necessarily brittle, but depending on annealing, can be very hard (or soft).   My 4 aught service wire is aluminum and i have seen a lot of (what i consider to be lesser quality) jumper cables made of aluminum.  

1 hour ago, p_toad said:

Aluminum isn't necessarily brittle, but depending on annealing, can be very hard (or soft).   My 4 aught service wire is aluminum and i have seen a lot of (what i consider to be lesser quality) jumper cables made of aluminum.  

You will want to check the lugs on the aluminum wire. I have seen it get loose from expanding and contracting in the hot and cold.

The major drawback to aluminum wire. Some towns out my way only allow it with the crimp-on lugs, which you then attach to whatever you are feeding.

 

Back in the 70s there was a night club/supper club in northern KY. that caught fire and burned down, killing over 300 people (as I recall). The cause of the fire was the aluminum wiring used in the building. The expansion/contraction thing in the panel sparked the blaze. It was the Beverly Hills Supper club. I've been scared of aluminum wire ever since then.

34 minutes ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

Back in the 70s there was a night club/supper club in northern KY. that caught fire and burned down, killing over 300 people (as I recall). The cause of the fire was the aluminum wiring used in the building. The expansion/contraction thing in the panel sparked the blaze. It was the Beverly Hills Supper club. I've been scared of aluminum wire ever since then.

We had quite a few fires caused by the same thing, so the Ontario government banned the use of aluminum wiring in houses for that reason.

John