We used an Analog Multimeter (it takes 2 double A batteries for continuity testing) and a wire tester (which lights up if there is electricity flowing). Everything we tested seemed to have juice. The existing wires in the ceiling that we are connecting to previously worked fine with a different light fixture. There is 1 red single aluminum wire and a triple 'pigtail' which has three different wires braided together. It goes to a dimmer switch on the wall. When we put our wire tester up to these wires, it lit up telling us that there is electricity there. The meter read 115 volts. Then we combined these wires with the wire leading to the lamp (which we had tested by themselves as well as the socket for the light bulb and the OHM meter showed they were all working). We have tested the wire,the socket by itself and all of them show continuity. How should the connection be made between braided Copper and solid Aluminum wire? We have the anti-oxidant and special wire nuts but we are figuring we must be doing something wrong since there was a working circuit between aluminum and copper connections previously that worked. Should we open the pigtail up? We already sanded and wire brushed the wires trying to make a better connection but nothing.

Thanks Paul again - hope this all went through.