CCA has been used for lots of new build houses so having CCA is nothing new. Just note that the ampacity of a CCA cable is not the same as using a copper cable. Usually would need to spec a little thicker to make up for it. The question is the quality of the CCA cable. If we are talking about the conductors themselves, I have seen CCA cables that are very brittle. Seems a slight bend in the cable would snap a conductor. Other times seems the aluminum has another metal mixed in or something letting it be more malleable. We also need to look at the type of jacket for the cable itself. Basic CM? CMR? CMX? CMP? This would let you know how the manufacturer intended for you to use this cable. The million dollar question is whether it is okay to use. Yes you can use if if you already have it. It will work. Don't try to push too much POE power through it. Signal transmission probably not as great as there is more resistance in the wiring so I wouldn't use it for longer runs. If you spec-ed out the correct jacket on it then it should be more or less fine to use. Just note that if there is a choice, always go for OFC (full copper).
Is CCA cable really that bad? Should I rip it out?
- Thread starter cmx
- Start date
If the cable is already run then I would say use it with caution. I would de-rate your expectations. Not everyone has the budget to rerun cabling. If this cabling was run for a new build then most likely was stapled down which makes it worse. For a low power camera which is running 10 watts. Sure. Just use it. Something that is high POE? I would be more iffy on that. If it is just for networking but no POE power.... Sure... why not? It is all about the cost involved with changing it all out so wire, terminations, labor and how much having to keep and use this wiring bothers you. Only you can decide that.So you would consider that sage advice?
mat200
IPCT Contributor
- Jan 17, 2017
- 18,875
- 31,567
"If this cabling was run for a new build then most likely was stapled down which makes it worse. "
OMG .. CCA is super brittle compared to pure copper .. gonna be broken if stapled
looney2ns
IPCT Contributor
Your giving bad advice.
www.truecable.com
Check Your Specs, CCA Is Different From Solid Copper
Few people know all the differences between CCA vs. solid copper cables. Let the experts at trueCABLE explain how to purchase the right ethernet cable.
www.truecable.com
Yes. CCA IS super brittle. When I had my house built, I wanted it prewired and was surprised to find out that the standard charge... the cables included was for running the lines using CCA. OFC wiring was an expensive upgrade. I would say most people probably didn't ask what kind of wiring is being used. I personally wouldn't use CCA but I know a lot of CCTV installers where that was all they use for their installs. They would only pick up OFC if the customer requests. And yes for my prewire they did staple it all in. They said it was required by code. Only wires that wouldn't be stapled in was if I requested them to run a smurf tube.
I know electrical wire they do have some CCA that is UL certified. The brand that comes to mind is CopperWeld. So UL certification for CCA is possible. Do they have it for network cable? No idea. Please don't think that I am endorsing the use of CCA cabling. But if someone already has it in their home then they would need to consider what they are using the cable for... The amount of wattage that they are trying to use for POE power... Look at the jacket of the cable to see what it is rated for, etc. It is just silly to outright say no don't use it and pay a low voltage guy at least $100 for a basic drop when you are running a low power camera. It all depends on use case scenario and the person's budget.If UL won't certify it, that should tell us something. The part that concerns me is that, even if the cable is/was not the source of a fire, the jacket can help spread the fire from ANOTHER source in the walls or between the floors if it does not meet flame test criteria.
Excerpt:
"Less expensive than using solid copper, cables made with CCA conductors are simply not worth the risk. Not only are they non-standards compliant, but they often do not have a valid UL safety listing per the National Electric Code (NEC).What about that UL mark on the box? If the cable is made with CCA and claims standards compliance, it could be counterfeit cable, and that means the UL mark is likely unauthorized. UL listed cables got their safety listing because they passed strict flame spread testing to reduce the spread of fire. If the UL listing is fake, there's a chance the safety is too."Tips to Identify Copper Clad Aluminium (CCA) Cables
So you came across some Category 6 cable available online for practically half what you've been paying for that brand name. It claims TIA-568-C compliance, includes the UL listing mark and even has a ETL verification legend printed right on the cable. Before you get too excited, you might want...www.flukenetworks.com
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Yep, revived from the 70's to allow lighter and cheaper costs of wiring up homes mainly. It's ALWAYS about money
If you've ever discovered the errors made in conductor size and circuit breaker choices made by many self-proclaimed "electricians" when wiring up homes using the conventional materials of the last 50 years you'd understand the likely incorrect choices that will be made using CCA electrical wiring on these new, future jobs.....a LOT of new and different requirements.
I'm not saying it cannot be used safely or done right...I AM saying you lessen the chance of that happening when you keep changing the materials and the requirements mandated by those materials.
Copper-Clad Aluminum Wiring - American Society of Home Inspectors, Inc.
Copper-clad aluminum (CCA) conductors are becoming a more common option as a wiring method in new construction. The primary reasons for this recent gain in popularity are lower cost and […]
www.homeinspector.org