I do NOT like aluminum on eleltricks
esp not next to copper
dissimilar metals and copper and aluminum are about as dissimilar as you can get
bet the breakers copper is also nasty looking
sailors know you need insulate bronze bits from an alloy mast or it gets eaten and fails
or use SS instead

anyway aluminum is the problem
get copper lugs
unless all your wires are aluminum
then you have bigger problems

You have to use NoAlox. Problem solved.

So it's been 3 years or so now. My property manager called me and asked if I was having electrical problems because the business on the first floor was. I said no since the fix I did has been working flawlessly. After a few discussions I learned he had three electricians come out and look at things and at first they couldn't figure it out and then one of them just switched off the center bar, the same one that gave me problems.

He got quotes from a few thousand to fix problem to $16K to replace the whole box. But the electrician who wanted to fix it wanted to make sure the breakers were covered before they did the repair. So my PM asked me if I could make covers. My solution with notes.

Walk down memory lane, box with cover off

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1616864692.jpg


My repair. Works perfectly and I'm burning $600 to $800 of e- each month. My cadmium plated washer looked great!

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1616864692.jpg


What a surprise, their middle bar looks like mine did years ago.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1616864692.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1616864692.jpg



To make covers I cut the tube and door plate off the back of dryer vents. Crimped the top for a mating surface and made gaskets out of neoprene. These will keep rain out of the box but humidity can still get in though the box is not sealed at all and if these were sealed, I don't think it would make a difference.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1616864692.jpg



http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1616864692.jpg

Underwriters lab (U.L.) approval for electrical distribution components is a good thing to have when a forensic insurance scenario occurs after an electrical event.

Carrying normal operating current is one aspect of the circuit breaker mechanical connection, Interruption current capacity is what keeps fires from occurring, just sayin