Aluminum wiring or copper??
Posted 12-15-2008 at 01:43 AM by imeynstein
I have a 1974 sovereign 31'...I just now got her across the street at my mother in laws after being 'stored' at my mother's home for five years!!
I have noticed that my front outside lights---over the door, outside light and front end gaucho area does not light.
The fuses are all changed and new...I am going to attempt to remove my antenna tomorrow as I had noticed it was leaking everywhere!!! ( My assumption is that this leak is trailing on the front end lights as every time our area becomes very hot and dry--the outside lights miraculously re-appear!! BTW---I notice there is condensation in several places...Is this my problem?? If so, what can I do to remedy it?
More facts and questions:
It appeared that the lights in the living room area as well as the kitchen were aluminum!!! Nothing works as far as lighting is concerned in these areas!!!
I do not want to take out all of the zolatone wall coverings, ect., if at all possible...I want to replace all of the interior lighting with LED lighting, can someone help?
I have noticed that my front outside lights---over the door, outside light and front end gaucho area does not light.
The fuses are all changed and new...I am going to attempt to remove my antenna tomorrow as I had noticed it was leaking everywhere!!! ( My assumption is that this leak is trailing on the front end lights as every time our area becomes very hot and dry--the outside lights miraculously re-appear!! BTW---I notice there is condensation in several places...Is this my problem?? If so, what can I do to remedy it?
More facts and questions:
It appeared that the lights in the living room area as well as the kitchen were aluminum!!! Nothing works as far as lighting is concerned in these areas!!!
I do not want to take out all of the zolatone wall coverings, ect., if at all possible...I want to replace all of the interior lighting with LED lighting, can someone help?
Total Comments 8
Comments
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Copper or aluminum wiring
I forgot to stipulate that I meant the wiring to my light fixtures appear to be aluminum and not copper. When stripping the insulation from the wires, the wires are all silver....Has anyone else noticed this? Or do you think the p.o. may have done a little rewiring as the round switch over every light cover does not function and the p.o. placed toggle switches in order to turn the lights off and on....
Posted 12-15-2008 at 08:45 PM by imeynstein 
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I am an electrician, and an LED manufacturer. If the fixture wire looks silver it is most likely copper clad wire. But to be safe you can use AL-CU (aluminum to copper) wirenuts that are filled with an antioxidant compound. The problem with Al is it expands and contracts quite a bit, and it oxidizes. It ends up working its way loose from devices and wirenuts, thus arcing.
As for LED lighting... if you have the good fortune of having a run of romex that is all lighting you can switch it all to 12 volt DC. If there are other 110 components along the way like frig, fan, 110v outlet, etc you will need to step down the power at the light. There are a few LED fixtures on the market... have you come across one your interested in?Posted 12-15-2008 at 11:05 PM by Lisalynn
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I do have romex in my home and have run romex to add additional gang boxes--but my home was built in 1913, and older homes just do not have enough outlets!
However, I am afraid to run romex in my AS....I would have to take off the zolatone, (which I probably will end up having to do), and my husband just isn't going to get involved with 'my project. I fear that I may wire it wrong and cause it to go up in flames--then again--I am already worried about my current wiring anyway---just trying to get up the nerve to do some heavy work....Posted 12-16-2008 at 12:14 AM by imeynstein
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Sorry to hear your support team is less than supportive.
We are taking off the skins, and I do a lot myself now, my husband is supportive and will be doing a lot of the tuff stuff... Perhaps recruite a friend, sibling, child, parent... ??
So as we remove outlets and skins, I am amazed at how unsafe the 110 volt wiring is (the 12 volt looks great!) The 110 has outlets without boxes that are just cut into the (conductive) AL skins, taped splices in the wall, and wiring runs through ruff holes without grommets... So your instincts may be accurate.
Our skins came off easy, we did a lot of reading here first: https://vintageairstream.com/floyd/restoration/restorationindex.html
It has been a huge help. If you want an upgrade without removing skins, you could cut in shallow plastic boxes and put in new outlets… that would be a big improvement!Posted 12-16-2008 at 12:52 AM by Lisalynn
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I really don't have anyone to recruit other than my two year old nephew!!! Hahaha--he probably knows more than all of my family put together about everything when it comes to renovating things. I have learned alot by doing things myself and learned the hard way...but, I still have so very much more to learn...I am going to attempt to replace my front clearance lights tomorrow--weather permitting--as I noticed that they are all disintegrating. The interior housing is corroded and the outer housing is practically gone..Heck, I think they are original to my AS. I am assuming that from rain, ect., that perhaps this has caused leaks to the interior skin and maybe this has affected my wiring....(duh), but I have noticed that the outside light beside my door has condensation in it. When the weather was very hot and dry for a long time, it worked for about one day. I got excited, but my excitement only lasted one day. Once the heavy rains came along with the cold weather it no longer works--again.....I am planning on placing vulkem under the housing of the new clearance light plate....I really don't know what else to do. I am visiting Lowe's tomorrow for the AL C wire nuts...Thanks....
Posted 12-18-2008 at 12:15 AM by imeynstein
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Aluminum wiring or copper??
Tonight I went into my AS ---1974 Soveriegn and came out with more questions than answers and I am hoping that someone can assist.
I am trying to replace my lighting with flouresent lights in the kitchen, however the front gaucho as well as the bedroom, outside light, and rear bathroom lights are not lighting. Could this be that I need to replace my univolt with an intellivolt???
I noticed that my purple wire that leads to a fuse holder, has been spliced and now has an orange wire attached and has electrical tape over it. I have also noticed that my red wire from the univolt has the same thing!!!
--perhaps by the p.o. did this and it short circuited my wires.... and no matter what I have tried, my aforementioned lights will not turn on!!
I replaced my front exterior lights (clearance lights) and am hoping to replace the rear clearance lights next week...What I am wanting to do is to replace all of my 12 v lights with led's interiorly. I do not want to disturb the interior skin if possible in which to do this....What do I need to do, and how I can I go about this?
I did try to place a flourescent light over my sink tonight thinking that things were not grounded appropriately, hence, keeping the lights off--this did nothing... I did notice that the p.o. had re-wired one of the lights over my twin bunks with the same type of 110 wiring, and it works just fine....I am on limited time as well as a limited budget...Can anyone send pics as to how to help me??
Posted 12-19-2008 at 09:25 PM by imeynstein
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I forgot to mention that I went to Wal-mart last night and had bought 5 orange clearance lights for the front of my AS....They are not the same as the original, but they look GREAT!!! I placed 116 vulkem on the plates behind the lights just as an extra preventative measure for moisture...I plan on replacing my rear and side clearance lights this week!!!
Posted 12-19-2008 at 11:27 PM by imeynstein
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If you haven't already, go to the lighting area in the forums and search for led lighting. You will find some good information there, and then try sending a personal message to someone who has already done what you want to do.
I would try getting the existing lights to work first because if your wiring is a problem it needs to be addressed first, then go on to the led light conversion, or flourescent. You may want to do some research on the lighting you are considering before deciding what type to switch over to. One will probably give you brighter lighting than the other and one will probably be more energy effecient.
Sorry to hear that your support group is a bust. I have the same problem most of the time. Just take it slowly, and use the forums for your support. If possible, use pictures with your descriptions of the things you are doing. It will sometimes get you more accurate answers to your questions.
RichPosted 12-29-2008 at 07:01 AM by VIKING
