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	Subject - Aluminum Terminations JimmyDee Here are three Aluminum terminations I received from a student that shows the results from an improper termination. I wish I knew more about the situation they came from, but the panel and wire had to be replaced. Looks like a little Penatrox would have gone a long ways. Jim cs409 jim, do you have a photo that is a bit clearer? and what size wire is that? thanks casey JimmyDee I think it is 350. I don't know what happened but the original pic was clear and crisp but it was also a half a meg in size. Maybe if I e-mail it to Scott he can reinstall it so it will look better. Jim Scott Vickrey I thought the picture was good I could almost smell it. I'll try to improve it if you want to send it. Jim, that's a nice truck you have. Scott Vickrey Here's an enlargement of the center wire. Think there was some arcing? Was this from a meter can? I ask because of the burns on the sides of the wire. JimmyDee I was told it was removed from a panel and that the panel had to be replaced also. Don't know anything else. This may have been the result of not tightening the lug set screw properly. I have always taken my channel locks and twisted the body of the wire back and forth several times then tighten the lug. I do this until I can't get anymore turns on the set screw. I've never lost a termination like this but sure have repaired a few. Did a little playing with the original picture and its a little bigger and clearer as well. Thanks Scott for you assistance. Jim cs409 i would say it was a bad connection aka, not tight enough and it appears the wire wasn't under the terminal very well!! if the wire isn't shaped where it sorta lays in place(sorta get it under a terminal and finish shaping with the lug doesn't work, ) where you can tighten it, u can have problems. this somewhat looks like what may have happened....any more info would be great. look at the heat on the insulation! i bet that puppy still stinks.... Electricman Jim, It would be interesting to find out if the lugs were AL CU rated. cs409 looks like you need a welding inspector Scott Vickrey This looks like the result of serious arcing. Like phase to phase. or lightning damage. cs409 looks like a lot of all of the above.... nasty for sure,,,, where the wires from the can to the main breaker/lugs?? JimmyDee The only thing I'm sure about these is they were not cleaned up, they fed a panel and they got bad. Jim