There is increasing concern in the network equipment industry regarding the use of multiconductor communication cables containing copper-clad aluminum (CCA) and copper-clad steel (CCS) as deformable grade cables.
The market is flooded with cheap and low-end imitations that mimic new products. Retailers and sellers often offer cheap industrial imitations as genuine products, which can be misleading. It is important to know when it is appropriate to use these imitations. In this document, we will define and explain how to identify and avoid these imitations.
What is CCA cable?
CCA network cable stands for Copper Clad Aluminum cables. These cables use aluminum conductors coated with copper, which is a cost-effective manufacturing process. This provides suppliers with a commercial advantage over their counterparts who sell actual copper cables.
The manufacturers’ websites highlight the advantages of this cable, which is made with an aluminum conductor coated in copper. It is lightweight and has excellent frequency transmission performance, making it suitable for a wide range of electronic applications, including coils, inductors, and rectifiers.
However, manufacturers and sellers of non-CCA cables argue that CCA wires do not meet the required standards. This can cause serious issues for companies, cable installers, and engineers who use these products in their customers’ network environments. Although CCA wires may appear and function like standard cables in some situations, there are significant differences that can lead to network problems and safety risks. CCA installations may suffer from degraded data along similar length cables compared to copper cable, despite their higher resistance according to standards.
However, it is important to consider the reality of the situation. However, it is important to consider the reality of the situation. Further information on the best choice will be provided at the end of this article.
Advantages and disadvantages of CCA cable (copper with aluminum core)
The advantages of CCA network cable are as follows:
Copper-clad aluminum technology is cost-effective because it uses a material that is not pure copper. Additionally, it is often measured in meters instead of weight, resulting in lower shipping costs.
Copper-clad aluminum wire and copper-clad steel wire have the same conductivity as pure copper wire when transmitting high-frequency signals (over 5 MHz) due to the ‘surface effect’ characteristic.
This technology is also wear-resistant and can be soldered without removing the wire film.
The main disadvantages of CCA network cable are:
In terms of electrical performance, copper-clad aluminum conductors have a higher DC resistance than pure copper conductors due to the lower conductivity of aluminum. This may have an impact on power supply applications, such as amplifiers, as the copper-clad aluminum conductor can cause additional power consumption and voltage drop.
Due to its susceptibility to oxidation, copper-clad aluminum wire is not recommended for use in high-heat environments. Instead, copper core cables should be used in locations where high temperature resistance and stringent requirements are mandated by civil building design codes. As a result, copper core wire is often used in shopping malls instead of CCA wire, and aluminum covered with copper is rarely used instead of copper wire.
What is CCC cable?
CCC stands for Copper Clad Copper, which refers to copper with a copper coating, making it an all-copper cable.
This type of cable is known for its high flexibility and ability to support PoE capability. However, some manufacturers use low-grade copper alloys made by mixing recycled copper with impurities such as brass and tin, resulting in 8 mm bars per meter. The cable is covered with copper foil, which reduces its conductivity quality similar to CCA network cable. As a result, the conductivity is full of impurities with very high oxygen content, and the resistance is even higher than aluminum. Although it may appear to be copper when cut and inspected, it is difficult to detect. The best way to check is to measure the conductor resistance of the cable using the appropriate equipment.
Advantages and disadvantages of CCC cable or CU cable (all copper)
The main type of network cable has high conductivity, which generates heat to perform its function, resulting in high safety.
They offer high speed and flexibility, supporting PoE capability, and operate quietly.
Additionally, they are resistant to corrosion, decay, and brittleness.
CCC cables have several disadvantages, including
their weight and price.
Additionally, their heaviness makes them difficult to move.
What is CCS network cable?
CCS network cable stands for copper clad steel, which refers to steel conductors coated with a layer of copper. This type of cable is similar to CCA network cable, but with higher mechanical strength due to the steel conductor. The use of specific terminology and clear, concise language ensures that the text is easy to understand and free from unnecessary repetition. The text is written in a formal tone, free from personal bias or opinion. The content of the improved text is as close as possible to the source text, with no additional aspects added. While steel is heavier and less flexible than aluminum, it is a strong alternative to copper that minimizes physical damage during installation. The language is direct and unambiguous, avoiding confusion. The use of active voice and precise word choice further enhances clarity and coherence. The text is free from grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, and punctuation errors, adhering strictly to metrics and units. While steel is heavier and less flexible than aluminum, it is a strong alternative to copper that minimizes physical damage during installation. While steel is heavier and less flexible than aluminum, it is a strong alternative to copper that minimizes physical damage during installation. The text also follows a logical structure, with each sentence and paragraph logically connecting to the preceding ones. Non-essential fillers have been removed to improve conciseness. When installing, it is important to consider the intended use. It may not always be a suitable replacement for a CCC or all-copper network cable.
Advantages and disadvantages of CCS cable (copper with steel core)
The advantages of CCS network cable are
its light
weight and low cost compared to all-copper network cable.
This type of network cable, like CCA network cable, has the same conductivity as pure copper wire when transmitting high frequency signals.
However, the disadvantages of this type of network cable are:
Due to its high resistance, steel must be used carefully and in the appropriate location. Otherwise, it can generate excessive heat and cause transmission issues.
The difference between CCA, CCC and CCS network cables
CCA network cable differs from other similar cables, such as CCC and CCS, in the material used for its inner core. CCA’s inner core is made of aluminum, while CCS is made of steel and CCC is made of copper. This results in differences in conductivity, weight, density, and flexibility among the three types of cables. Copper has the highest conductivity, followed by steel and then aluminum. Copper, steel, and aluminum have different weights, densities, and flexibilities.
Additionally, CCC cable is more expensive than the other two options.
Advantages and disadvantages of CCA network cable conductor against copper
In general, copper is considered a type 100 conductor according to Iranian standards. Therefore, it is recommended to use this type of network cable for safety reasons. However, the use of CCA network cable, which has lower conductivity than copper, is still considered the standard for flexibility in the 10 mm and above group.
One disadvantage of CCA cables compared to copper is that they are not suitable for the applications specified for pure copper. This can cause long-term problems that will be costly to correct after the cable is installed.
However, CCA cables have the advantage of being lower in price than copper. They can be used in parts where the flexibility is 10 mm or higher, which can result in cost savings.
If the standards are not followed, the high resistance of aluminum compared to copper can cause overheating, burning, or even fire.
Disadvantages of CCA network cable for network use
This type of network cable is less flexible than its copper counterpart, so it should only be used in appropriate locations. If used in an unsuitable location, and the necessary standards are not met due to its low price, it can result in a range of consequences, from minor damage to more serious issues. These can include packet loss, data retransmissions, and slower data storage and transmission speeds.
Aluminum has a lower tensile strength than copper. Therefore, when producing twisted pair cables using CCA network cables, it can lead to confusion and annoyance due to their low tensile strength. CCA wires can be easily cut by tensile or shearing forces.
How can CCA network cable be distinguished from copper?
Distinguishing between copper and aluminum can be challenging, but there are simple methods that experts can use. Copper is heavier than aluminum, which is one way to differentiate between the two. Another practical solution is to hold a lit lighter to the core of the network cable. If the inner core only melts and does not turn black, it is copper. Otherwise, it is aluminum or CCA network cable type.
Distinguishing CCC network cable from CCA and CCS
Identifying CCS from CCA network cable is similar to identifying CCC from the previous section. Distinguishing between CCS and CCA can be difficult as both are not resistant to burning and turn black. However, one way to differentiate them is that aluminum is lighter than steel. Specialized companies can also measure the resistance of cables with special devices to easily identify the type of core metal based on the readings.
