And this is why...

You don't mix aluminum wire with copper rated plugs.
Not sure how much it was ever used down there in 'Merica

But from 72-77 aluminum wire was used in houses instead of copper.
Well one of my neighbors who sadly found out I'm an electrician just came to my door asking if I could check something with his plug for him...I found this


So for anyone that may have aluminum wire in your house...just a recommendation, don't mix copper with it if you aren't going to do the proper joints.

 

When I bought my first house in S.C. in 2003 I checked out all the wiring. It was mostly aluminum wire. The black cloth wrapped stuff. The jacketing was all brittle and falling apart. Someone had run what I believe was some "new" outlets/switches in the house (who knows when). I ended up ripping everything out of the house from the outside service panel to the main box, and ran all new stuff.

 

I've seen some really messed up stuff in old houses.

Just recently had my girlfriends neighbor ask me to change a light in the basement when I was down there found a bunch of old knob and tube wires still live even though he supposedly had the house rewired and all knob and tube removed.

 

Aluminum wiring had plastic sheaths and insulation. You were looking at tinned copper.

 

The same would have happened with a loose connection with copper wiring.

 

plastic sheath 60-75 degree rated wire.
one of the reasons NMD 90 is used everywhere now in homes. 90 degree rating for lights.
But I hear the US uses AC90 everywhere in houses now.

 

yep, but aluminum heats up and contracts differently and oxidizes, loosening itself and causing arcing.
But ya, I've seen my fair share of stupid copper things too.
I've seen plugs look the same. Had one service call for a plug in a garage. Guy rewired a standard 15amp plug to put 220V 30amp to power a welder, cut the cord end off and put a standard 15amp male plug on it, then burnt the shit out of the receptacle lol.

 

More crazy shit...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXiLOoTJOBo