Well stated. Love this video. Me, after using CCA for my solar panels and batteries bank, all my fuse breakers tripped. Then I increased from 50A to 80A fuses, 10awg wires started to smoke. I threw all the CCA wires, not given, away and started to use oxygen free copper for my solar project. Ty
Yes, I see from your video about the 21 limit. BUT when I measure the internet speed speedtest on my router, I don't see any speed difference with Cat6 ethernet between my copper versus CCA cables. So I think the advantage of copper over CCA is if you need to transmit power to keep the wire cooler.
Hello, and you make a good point about your Internet speed. Internet speed is going to be much lower than what the cable is actually capable of, so you may not notice any issues for now. Down the line, you might notice an issue since CCA terminations tend to oxidize and aluminum oxide is not conductive. Copper oxidation is, however. CCA will not actually pass Category testing, which is the gold standard for determining if your cable will not only support the maximum it should with stability but also support PoE.
If you can’t see well or want to know for sure…Instead of scrapping wire hit it with a lighter. Pure copper will just get really hot and won’t react. CCA will quickly turn ashy grey and start to curl and go limp from the heat.
Hello, how to recognize a CCA cable from a Solid Copper without stripping it? I am in France, and apart from a single reference, there is no indication if the cable is CCA or Solid Copper, neither on the label nor on the cable itself
Hello and I understand your frustration. If you cannot scrape the conductor wire, then the next way of determining CCA is cable is usually price. CCA is much cheaper...unusually cheap and seems to be a deal too good to be true. A third way it to take a box/spool of solid copper Ethernet in one hand, and then a spool/box of the suspected CCA cable in the other hand. Lift them both up simultaneously. Does one weigh far more than the other? If one is a LOT lighter, then it is likely CCA. I hope that helps!
Hello! Thanks for leaving a comment. The CCCA (Communications Cable & Connectivity Association) has a website which breaks down controlled fire testing that highlights the issues. You may wish to take a look there for data on the number of in-field fires associated with CCA to date. CCA cannot be listed via ETL or UL and is prohibited for use in Ethernet cable per the NEC/NPFA 70. It is illegal to install, especially in commercial structures. CCA does indeed pose a fire safety hazard, especially when higher wattage PoE is involved--like 60W and 90W 802.3bt PoE++. Hope this helps!
I haven't heard of these fires actually happening, but it's better to be safe than sorry, so I wouldn't use one in PoE circuits. Short distances up to 10 meters to a switch, low speed, signal only (the integrity is doubtful, though) - that's where this cable is intended to be used for, and I won't use it for anything else.
Hello Jonathan. I would think pure-stranded copper would be superior for any application that may pass voltages, but I am not an expert on cellphone charging. Cellphone charging may have practical limits beyond conductor material that might make CCA in cell phone charger cables more acceptable than in Ethernet data transmission.
thank you for the info i didnt know about it i always through pure copper was the standard due to it low resistance you don't use cheap cca cable definitely !
Hello! You are welcome for the information and we are glad you liked it and found it useful. You are absolutely correct; CCA is a bad deal, no matter how inexpensive it is.
Noted! In our product listings, we use "solid bare copper" and "pure solid copper" so that people can find our products and know what they are getting. There are a lot of sellers and manufacturers out there willing to distort the information and confuse potential customers, which we find very distasteful. Your example is just one such distortion that they may use!
free electrons run on the outermost layer and not in the core (which are not free and are bound) therefore it should not matter which to use both are the same in terms of resistance
Hello! Beware claims regarding the "skin effect." It is suggested that the skin effect, where electrons run across the top of the copper, renders the underlying aluminum irrelevant in CCA cables. It is not quite this simple, and CCA cables behave differently when it comes to twisted pair communications cables as opposed to coaxial. CCA cables have a higher DC resistance and DC resistance unbalance problem that prevents them from meeting testing standards. The cable fails to meet expected standards and cannot be certified. In addition, the DC resistance of copper-clad aluminum is 55% higher than that of pure copper. Therefore, the claim that the skin effect negates the issues with CCA is unfounded and provable with test equipment.
Hello Omair. It sounds like you are describing solid copper Ethernet. Solid copper is the same color through the entire conductor. CCA would have a distinctive yellow copper over silver aluminum core. If it is not CCA, your cable should be fine for PoE.
im really tempted to buy Cat6E-CCA because its really cheap, btw sir is Cat6A slim type 32awg can deliver same performance as its counterpart the regular cat6a 27awg?
Hello! As trueCABLE does not carry any patch cable yet, all of our solid copper conductor bulk unterminated Ethernet is either 23 or 24 AWG. As for CCA, there is no reputable manufacturer that would carry it, and no industry standard recognizes it for use in Ethernet cable.
Short patch flat cables Cat6 are OK to use. NO DANGER at all ( NETGEAR use them, so it is safe for use). I believe NETGEAR company knows their stuff better than a lot of small CABLE companies.
Hello! Yeah, many people don't know about CCA and just how bad it is. They see a low price and get fooled into thinking they are buying Ethernet cable. CCA cable cannot be called Ethernet since there is no standard around how to construct it, to begin with and specifically prohibited by the standards and most regulations/Codes. Glad we helped you out!
I believe most people buying this will not realize it since it will connect with 1gbps and that is enough for them but later when they wanna upgrade it and the cable is long they are going to have to replace everthing and it will cost more
Hello and thanks for your comment! Indeed, many people don't realize the issues with CCA and then run into problems with higher speeds or when PoE is involved. As you said, CCA will end up costing you more in the long run, despite a better-looking price upfront. As with anything, BUYER BEWARE!
I have installed a CCA 20m cable and the connection speed was limited to 100Mbps. The network card simply won't take 1.0 Gpbs. I tried with another 5e high quality cable (albeit just 2 meters), and it connected with 1.0g. So, CCA on long run (time and distance both!) is worthless.
Sorry to let ya down but neither you or the gumnuts in the above video do not understand voltage laws nor current laws as applied. You're being scammed. The 2/0 wire entering the meter can on the outside of your house is aluminum. Think about it.
Hello Anthony. We have to disagree with you on this. The NEC/NFPA 70 is very clear on this point, and that is communications cables (with the exception of coaxial) SHALL be copper. It is the law. Further, there is no recognition for CCA in the ANSI/TIA 568 standard for the use of copper-clad aluminum conductors in copper twisted pair Ethernet, and in fact, it cannot be described as "Category" cable of any kind. It does not matter whether the home is new or older. We would love it, however, if you would describe the section of the NEC/NFPA 70 that allows CCA twisted pair "Ethernet" to be installed legally, and we will repost the precise text here for you from our copy of the NEC/NFPA 70.
Hello Henry! Great question. The answer is because it is not illegal to SELL CCA. It is illegal in commercial structures to INSTALL CCA, however. For residential structures it is not illegal to install it as it is not specifically prohibited per the NEC/NFPA 70 guidelines. That said, some local jurisdictions may have made CCA illegal to install even in residential structures too. Shady manufacturers and resellers are taking advantage of legal loop holes and end-user ignorance of the subject. It really is quite deplorable, if you think about it!
Hello! Thanks for leaving a comment. The CCCA (Communications Cable & Connectivity Association) has a website which breaks down controlled fire testing that highlights the issues. You may wish to take a look there for data on the number of in-field fires associated with CCA to date. CCA cannot be listed via ETL or UL and is prohibited for use in Ethernet cable per the NEC/NPFA 70. It is illegal to install, especially in commercial structures. CCA does indeed pose a fire safety hazard, especially when higher wattage PoE is involved--like 100W 802.3bt PoE++. The issue is further exacerbated when cable bundles are used inside conduit. Hope this helps!
That's nuts, I didn't know there were fires with such low voltages of regular Ethernet or even POE. We had these problems already with aluminum wiring of regular AC power in homes back in the 70s.
Hello Aaron! Yes, it is indeed crazy that an old problem can come back to become a new problem. Up until now the vast majority of PoE devices do not require more than 30W and the risks are primarily with the end device not getting the power it needs, which may result in damage to your networking devices. Even if end point PoE device damage does not occur cable overheating will cause data transmission problems. Therefore, CCA is definitely a big NO NO in Ethernet installations. The biggest danger is due to PoE wattage needs evolving and more devices requiring 60W or even 100W. The risk of fire is real--especially in larger cable bundles that are inside conduit. This could result in you and your installation becoming a rare statistic!
@@trueCABLE What is the voltage of these PoE devices. cant be more than 15 volts. 100w at these low voltages in such a fine wire is going to carry considerable amperage with high losses, even short runs. a decent film of copper on an aluminum substrate with the use of a silicon grease to prevent oxidation should not present a problem.
@@chupacabra1765 Hello and thanks for comment. Per TIA, the NEC/NFPA 70, and BICSI copper clad aluminum should never be used for Ethernet cable. It is flat-out illegal to use in commercial structures. The primary problem is PoE. As you can see from the Fluke DSX-8000 testing I performed CCA fails miserably. Not only did it fail PoE testing, it also failed Category testing. I was testing so-called "Cat5e" CCA and using Cat5e Permanent Link testing, so not exactly a high bar. As for wattage and voltage, DC is of course different than AC. The typical voltage of PoE is 57V and anywhere from 15W DC to 100W DC. 100W DC is fine over pure solid copper conductors, even with 24AWG. Ultimately of course the choice is yours to make. Sure, you can save a few dollars buying CCA. You also risk data transmission issues and PoE device damage. It's not worth it.
Hello Amado and thanks for your comment (and admission ;>)). When you need to replace the CCA at some point give us a shout and we will help you select the correct cable for your needs!
Advertiser always claims outrageous stuffs about other type of cables other than theirs. The cheap clad aluminum cables might not work as efficiently as the solid copper cable but it is not a real danger to use since what is travelling inside is only very low DC voltage ( no fire hazard). It is worth installing the expensive cable IF you are intending to stay in that house for life or you have plenty of money to waste. That is a simple true life fact.
Hello Claude and thanks for leaving a comment. I think we will have to agree to disagree on the "Facts of Life". Commercially speaking, per the NEC/NFPA 70 in the USA, it is illegal to install copper clad aluminum (CCA) twisted pair communications cable. Although technically not illegal to install in a residential setting, it is unwise to do so. All professional and industry organizations recommend against CCA for good reasons. I have tested CCA against pure copper Ethernet and can prove that not only is it bad for for PoE but it won't pass any level of Certification testing in regards to performance. The final point is that PoE is drawing ever more wattage at the end point device, with many devices starting to require 100W (802.3bt 2018 revision). With enough 100W PoE runs in a bundle, especially in a conduit, using CCA poses a significant risk for heat damage to the cable itself and a real (albeit small) risk of actual fire damage to the structure. Installation of pure copper conductor Ethernet is a wise investment, not a waste of money. Don't use CCA!
To go as far as to say that it will catch fire is ridiculous I understand the video and I understand the difference but like I said to go as far as to say that it will burn your house down that's ridiculous. There's not enough voltage in those cables to start a fire definitely not
Hello and thanks for your comments. Unfortunately, CCA "Ethernet" cable installations making use of higher powered variations of PoE (such as 802.3bt 60W and 90W) do indeed pose a safety hazard. You have two factors working against you right off the bat: 1.) Thin conductors to begin with (24 AWG or 23 AWG is a lot thinner than common AC wiring). 2.) Aluminum core conductors have 55% more DC voltage resistance than solid copper conductors. This causes rapid heat build-up and difficulty with heat dissipation. This issue is exacerbated exponentially with larger cable bundles, where the sympathetic heating effects are most dramatically seen. A great example of where this can occur is IP surveillance camera applications, where the end point devices are PTZ and consume a great deal of energy. In the right (wrong, actually) circumstances, an individual conductor wire can overheat enough to cause a fire that will start inside a cable that ends up spreading to another cable and then to the structure it is attached to. For further reading on this subject, Fluke Networks published a good article on the subject here: www.flukenetworks.com/blog/cabling-chronicles/cca-not-worth-savings-or-risk
@@slybunda Actually, CCA should not be used for regular data either. The issue is that your terminations will oxidize over time. When it comes to copper this is not an issue as copper oxide is conductive. Aluminum oxide is not conductive at all. Eventually the terminations on a CCA cable run will fail due to this phenomenon and this is only one of the many reasons why CCA has no place in Ethernet installations.
@@slybunda and it will run for a lifetime with no problem I am not a fan of CCA cable I believe it's too cheap but whoever uses it wouldn't have a problem like yourself for 9 years
@@trueCABLE Thank you for your response. I've watched the video, but the DC-loop resistance is only twice that of the copper cable. As cables that are fully up to standard (e.g. the regular copper ethernet cables) should get you up to 100m with POE, wouldn't that mean that if conductivity is the only consideration, the CCA-cable would get you up to 50m? You haven't measured actual data-transfer speeds and POE-performance at different cable lengths, and from the data you present it is not clear at all to me that CCA-cable is unsuitable for the short distances that are common for most home users. You also haven't measured actual wire temperature, and it seems highly unlikely that wire temperature will increase by any significant measure when using it for low-power applications such as POE. I'm most worried about oxidation at connectors, but even there it seems that the risk of using aluminum cables in low voltage and low power applications cannot be compared to the risks associated to the use of aluminum in the wiring of houses, as in that case the danger is (mostly) due to arcing caused by degrading connections. You probably won't get arcing with a bad connection in POE-applications.
@@stefangr1 Hello! What the DC loop resistance will be, is going to depend on much more than just length. This particular example of CCA in the test had a certain DC resistance at a certain distance. Another manufacturer's CCA cable will have a different resistance at a certain different distance. The reason? There is NO STANDARD guiding how to construct CCA cable, as no standards body or regulatory body endorses the use of CCA. As you pointed out, the DC resistance may vary with length, but that would require exhaustive testing and only apply to a SINGLE brand and type of cable under test. Considering no reputable manufacturer is offering CCA (and given the prohibitions against its use), I don't see the benefits of testing it exhaustively so people can feel more comfortable installing it (potentially violating code in the process). That would be irresponsible of me and would put my BICSI Certifications at risk of revocation. Each installation is different, and some home users are pushing the limits with long-distance Ethernet runs. It is not a one-size-fits-all matter. As for arcing with bad connections....oh yes, that does occur, and with solid copper, too. In fact, our keystones are specifically designed to minimize spark arc damage if they should be unplugged while running 30W and above PoE. If the pitting is not apparent right away, multiple connects/disconnects will accumulate, and it will become apparent over time (or sometimes right away). I can put this debate to rest immediately, however. Use pure solid copper conductor Ethernet for structure cable and pure stranded copper Ethernet for patch cord applications. Problem solved. - Don Shultz, trueCABLE Technical Manager
Well stated. Love this video. Me, after using CCA for my solar panels and batteries bank, all my fuse breakers tripped. Then I increased from 50A to 80A fuses, 10awg wires started to smoke. I threw all the CCA wires, not given, away and started to use oxygen free copper for my solar project. Ty
Thanks. We appreciate the feedback. Copper is the way!
Yes, I see from your video about the 21 limit.
BUT when I measure the internet speed speedtest on my router, I don't see any speed difference with Cat6 ethernet between my copper versus CCA cables.
So I think the advantage of copper over CCA is if you need to transmit power to keep the wire cooler.
Hello, and you make a good point about your Internet speed. Internet speed is going to be much lower than what the cable is actually capable of, so you may not notice any issues for now. Down the line, you might notice an issue since CCA terminations tend to oxidize and aluminum oxide is not conductive. Copper oxidation is, however. CCA will not actually pass Category testing, which is the gold standard for determining if your cable will not only support the maximum it should with stability but also support PoE.
@@trueCABLE wow you dont stop do yo you. keep it up and we'll pull voltage laws and ohms laws an the entire goddamned National Electric Code into play
If you can’t see well or want to know for sure…Instead of scrapping wire hit it with a lighter. Pure copper will just get really hot and won’t react. CCA will quickly turn ashy grey and start to curl and go limp from the heat.
Hello Holden! Thanks for that tip. You are correct, aluminum will melt even with a simple lighter. Copper won't.
You just nailed it. Ty
@@thanhha2686 That's what we are here for!
Hello, how to recognize a CCA cable from a Solid Copper without stripping it? I am in France, and apart from a single reference, there is no indication if the cable is CCA or Solid Copper, neither on the label nor on the cable itself
Hello and I understand your frustration. If you cannot scrape the conductor wire, then the next way of determining CCA is cable is usually price. CCA is much cheaper...unusually cheap and seems to be a deal too good to be true. A third way it to take a box/spool of solid copper Ethernet in one hand, and then a spool/box of the suspected CCA cable in the other hand. Lift them both up simultaneously. Does one weigh far more than the other? If one is a LOT lighter, then it is likely CCA. I hope that helps!
So, how many fires have been started due to CCA?
Hello! Thanks for leaving a comment. The CCCA (Communications Cable & Connectivity Association) has a website which breaks down controlled fire testing that highlights the issues. You may wish to take a look there for data on the number of in-field fires associated with CCA to date. CCA cannot be listed via ETL or UL and is prohibited for use in Ethernet cable per the NEC/NPFA 70. It is illegal to install, especially in commercial structures. CCA does indeed pose a fire safety hazard, especially when higher wattage PoE is involved--like 60W and 90W 802.3bt PoE++. Hope this helps!
ZERO, NONE to my knowledge. Only affect your data transfer, noise interference poor picture quality.
I haven't heard of these fires actually happening, but it's better to be safe than sorry, so I wouldn't use one in PoE circuits. Short distances up to 10 meters to a switch, low speed, signal only (the integrity is doubtful, though) - that's where this cable is intended to be used for, and I won't use it for anything else.
So is standard soild copper charging cable (for cellphone) better than standard copper plated charging cable (for cellphone)? If so why?
Hello Jonathan. I would think pure-stranded copper would be superior for any application that may pass voltages, but I am not an expert on cellphone charging. Cellphone charging may have practical limits beyond conductor material that might make CCA in cell phone charger cables more acceptable than in Ethernet data transmission.
thank you for the info i didnt know about it i always through pure copper was the standard due to it low resistance you don't use cheap cca cable definitely !
Hello! You are welcome for the information and we are glad you liked it and found it useful. You are absolutely correct; CCA is a bad deal, no matter how inexpensive it is.
A search tip is "pure copper", because I have seen products listed as "Solid Copper Coated Aluminum".
Noted! In our product listings, we use "solid bare copper" and "pure solid copper" so that people can find our products and know what they are getting. There are a lot of sellers and manufacturers out there willing to distort the information and confuse potential customers, which we find very distasteful. Your example is just one such distortion that they may use!
free electrons run on the outermost layer and not in the core (which are not free and are bound) therefore it should not matter which to use both are the same in terms of resistance
Hello! Beware claims regarding the "skin effect." It is suggested that the skin effect, where electrons run across the top of the copper, renders the underlying aluminum irrelevant in CCA cables. It is not quite this simple, and CCA cables behave differently when it comes to twisted pair communications cables as opposed to coaxial. CCA cables have a higher DC resistance and DC resistance unbalance problem that prevents them from meeting testing standards. The cable fails to meet expected standards and cannot be certified. In addition, the DC resistance of copper-clad aluminum is 55% higher than that of pure copper. Therefore, the claim that the skin effect negates the issues with CCA is unfounded and provable with test equipment.
I recently bought 180 meters of cable which is 24 awg and looks like an aluminium bronze in appearane inside out. Are they any good for PoE runs?
Hello Omair. It sounds like you are describing solid copper Ethernet. Solid copper is the same color through the entire conductor. CCA would have a distinctive yellow copper over silver aluminum core. If it is not CCA, your cable should be fine for PoE.
Yes, you can use it with your POE. Only the data might get some noise or interference sometime (like some distorted or pixelated image on the screen)
im really tempted to buy Cat6E-CCA because its really cheap, btw sir is Cat6A slim type 32awg can deliver same performance as its counterpart the regular cat6a 27awg?
Hello! As trueCABLE does not carry any patch cable yet, all of our solid copper conductor bulk unterminated Ethernet is either 23 or 24 AWG.
As for CCA, there is no reputable manufacturer that would carry it, and no industry standard recognizes it for use in Ethernet cable.
Short patch flat cables Cat6 are OK to use. NO DANGER at all ( NETGEAR use them, so it is safe for use). I believe NETGEAR company knows their stuff better than a lot of small CABLE companies.
Almost got burned thanks
Hello! Yeah, many people don't know about CCA and just how bad it is. They see a low price and get fooled into thinking they are buying Ethernet cable. CCA cable cannot be called Ethernet since there is no standard around how to construct it, to begin with and specifically prohibited by the standards and most regulations/Codes. Glad we helped you out!
I believe most people buying this will not realize it since it will connect with 1gbps and that is enough for them but later when they wanna upgrade it and the cable is long they are going to have to replace everthing and it will cost more
Hello and thanks for your comment! Indeed, many people don't realize the issues with CCA and then run into problems with higher speeds or when PoE is involved. As you said, CCA will end up costing you more in the long run, despite a better-looking price upfront. As with anything, BUYER BEWARE!
I have installed a CCA 20m cable and the connection speed was limited to 100Mbps. The network card simply won't take 1.0 Gpbs. I tried with another 5e high quality cable (albeit just 2 meters), and it connected with 1.0g. So, CCA on long run (time and distance both!) is worthless.
IMO, this channel is the authority on networking cables. Thank you for important info. I will be buying from TrueCABLE to wire my home.
Thanks! This means a lot to our team. We do our best to provide educational content for potentially confusing concepts.
Sorry to let ya down but neither you or the gumnuts in the above video do not understand voltage laws nor current laws as applied. You're being scammed. The 2/0 wire entering the meter can on the outside of your house is aluminum. Think about it.
Electricians are installing it in new homes guys its approved for use per NEC code
Hello Anthony. We have to disagree with you on this. The NEC/NFPA 70 is very clear on this point, and that is communications cables (with the exception of coaxial) SHALL be copper. It is the law. Further, there is no recognition for CCA in the ANSI/TIA 568 standard for the use of copper-clad aluminum conductors in copper twisted pair Ethernet, and in fact, it cannot be described as "Category" cable of any kind. It does not matter whether the home is new or older. We would love it, however, if you would describe the section of the NEC/NFPA 70 that allows CCA twisted pair "Ethernet" to be installed legally, and we will repost the precise text here for you from our copy of the NEC/NFPA 70.
If its not allowed why is there so much CMP cca and cmr on ebay, amazon, etc?
Hello Henry! Great question. The answer is because it is not illegal to SELL CCA. It is illegal in commercial structures to INSTALL CCA, however. For residential structures it is not illegal to install it as it is not specifically prohibited per the NEC/NFPA 70 guidelines. That said, some local jurisdictions may have made CCA illegal to install even in residential structures too. Shady manufacturers and resellers are taking advantage of legal loop holes and end-user ignorance of the subject. It really is quite deplorable, if you think about it!
Almost none of statements made here are true. Cat5 starting fire? Really?
Hello! Thanks for leaving a comment. The CCCA (Communications Cable & Connectivity Association) has a website which breaks down controlled fire testing that highlights the issues. You may wish to take a look there for data on the number of in-field fires associated with CCA to date. CCA cannot be listed via ETL or UL and is prohibited for use in Ethernet cable per the NEC/NPFA 70. It is illegal to install, especially in commercial structures. CCA does indeed pose a fire safety hazard, especially when higher wattage PoE is involved--like 100W 802.3bt PoE++. The issue is further exacerbated when cable bundles are used inside conduit. Hope this helps!
CCA is also much lighter.
Indeed it is. Around half the weight, on average. You can really tell the difference. It just feels cheap!
That's nuts, I didn't know there were fires with such low voltages of regular Ethernet or even POE.
We had these problems already with aluminum wiring of regular AC power in homes back in the 70s.
Hello Aaron! Yes, it is indeed crazy that an old problem can come back to become a new problem. Up until now the vast majority of PoE devices do not require more than 30W and the risks are primarily with the end device not getting the power it needs, which may result in damage to your networking devices. Even if end point PoE device damage does not occur cable overheating will cause data transmission problems. Therefore, CCA is definitely a big NO NO in Ethernet installations. The biggest danger is due to PoE wattage needs evolving and more devices requiring 60W or even 100W. The risk of fire is real--especially in larger cable bundles that are inside conduit. This could result in you and your installation becoming a rare statistic!
@@trueCABLE What is the voltage of these PoE devices. cant be more than 15 volts. 100w at these low voltages in such a fine wire is going to carry considerable amperage with high losses, even short runs. a decent film of copper on an aluminum substrate with the use of a silicon grease to prevent oxidation should not present a problem.
@@chupacabra1765 Hello and thanks for comment. Per TIA, the NEC/NFPA 70, and BICSI copper clad aluminum should never be used for Ethernet cable. It is flat-out illegal to use in commercial structures. The primary problem is PoE. As you can see from the Fluke DSX-8000 testing I performed CCA fails miserably. Not only did it fail PoE testing, it also failed Category testing. I was testing so-called "Cat5e" CCA and using Cat5e Permanent Link testing, so not exactly a high bar. As for wattage and voltage, DC is of course different than AC. The typical voltage of PoE is 57V and anywhere from 15W DC to 100W DC. 100W DC is fine over pure solid copper conductors, even with 24AWG. Ultimately of course the choice is yours to make. Sure, you can save a few dollars buying CCA. You also risk data transmission issues and PoE device damage. It's not worth it.
Too late. I accidentally bought and installed cat6 CCA all over the house without knowing any better.
Hello Amado and thanks for your comment (and admission ;>)). When you need to replace the CCA at some point give us a shout and we will help you select the correct cable for your needs!
You're doomed I say. Doomed!
4:30 [insert Wilhelm Scream here]
True story
Thanks for sharing and your feedback!
Advertiser always claims outrageous stuffs about other type of cables other than theirs. The cheap clad aluminum cables might not work as efficiently as the solid copper cable but it is not a real danger to use since what is travelling inside is only very low DC voltage ( no fire hazard). It is worth installing the expensive cable IF you are intending to stay in that house for life or you have plenty of money to waste. That is a simple true life fact.
Hello Claude and thanks for leaving a comment. I think we will have to agree to disagree on the "Facts of Life". Commercially speaking, per the NEC/NFPA 70 in the USA, it is illegal to install copper clad aluminum (CCA) twisted pair communications cable. Although technically not illegal to install in a residential setting, it is unwise to do so. All professional and industry organizations recommend against CCA for good reasons. I have tested CCA against pure copper Ethernet and can prove that not only is it bad for for PoE but it won't pass any level of Certification testing in regards to performance. The final point is that PoE is drawing ever more wattage at the end point device, with many devices starting to require 100W (802.3bt 2018 revision). With enough 100W PoE runs in a bundle, especially in a conduit, using CCA poses a significant risk for heat damage to the cable itself and a real (albeit small) risk of actual fire damage to the structure. Installation of pure copper conductor Ethernet is a wise investment, not a waste of money. Don't use CCA!
Cca it's garbage, i used in my house, the internet speed was slower and i ended replacing all the wirea with solid copper
To go as far as to say that it will catch fire is ridiculous I understand the video and I understand the difference but like I said to go as far as to say that it will burn your house down that's ridiculous. There's not enough voltage in those cables to start a fire definitely not
Hello and thanks for your comments. Unfortunately, CCA "Ethernet" cable installations making use of higher powered variations of PoE (such as 802.3bt 60W and 90W) do indeed pose a safety hazard. You have two factors working against you right off the bat:
1.) Thin conductors to begin with (24 AWG or 23 AWG is a lot thinner than common AC wiring).
2.) Aluminum core conductors have 55% more DC voltage resistance than solid copper conductors. This causes rapid heat build-up and difficulty with heat dissipation. This issue is exacerbated exponentially with larger cable bundles, where the sympathetic heating effects are most dramatically seen. A great example of where this can occur is IP surveillance camera applications, where the end point devices are PTZ and consume a great deal of energy. In the right (wrong, actually) circumstances, an individual conductor wire can overheat enough to cause a fire that will start inside a cable that ends up spreading to another cable and then to the structure it is attached to.
For further reading on this subject, Fluke Networks published a good article on the subject here: www.flukenetworks.com/blog/cabling-chronicles/cca-not-worth-savings-or-risk
never use cca for poe applications. works fine for regular data.
@@slybunda Actually, CCA should not be used for regular data either. The issue is that your terminations will oxidize over time. When it comes to copper this is not an issue as copper oxide is conductive. Aluminum oxide is not conductive at all. Eventually the terminations on a CCA cable run will fail due to this phenomenon and this is only one of the many reasons why CCA has no place in Ethernet installations.
@@trueCABLE how longs it take? i got few cca runs in place for 9 years now still working.
@@slybunda and it will run for a lifetime with no problem I am not a fan of CCA cable I believe it's too cheap but whoever uses it wouldn't have a problem like yourself for 9 years
You're also only claiming things without supporting these claims. Not very useful.
Hello! There are Fluke DSX-8000 Permanent Link test results starting at 02:06 !
@@trueCABLE Thank you for your response. I've watched the video, but the DC-loop resistance is only twice that of the copper cable. As cables that are fully up to standard (e.g. the regular copper ethernet cables) should get you up to 100m with POE, wouldn't that mean that if conductivity is the only consideration, the CCA-cable would get you up to 50m? You haven't measured actual data-transfer speeds and POE-performance at different cable lengths, and from the data you present it is not clear at all to me that CCA-cable is unsuitable for the short distances that are common for most home users. You also haven't measured actual wire temperature, and it seems highly unlikely that wire temperature will increase by any significant measure when using it for low-power applications such as POE. I'm most worried about oxidation at connectors, but even there it seems that the risk of using aluminum cables in low voltage and low power applications cannot be compared to the risks associated to the use of aluminum in the wiring of houses, as in that case the danger is (mostly) due to arcing caused by degrading connections. You probably won't get arcing with a bad connection in POE-applications.
@@stefangr1 Hello! What the DC loop resistance will be, is going to depend on much more than just length. This particular example of CCA in the test had a certain DC resistance at a certain distance. Another manufacturer's CCA cable will have a different resistance at a certain different distance. The reason? There is NO STANDARD guiding how to construct CCA cable, as no standards body or regulatory body endorses the use of CCA. As you pointed out, the DC resistance may vary with length, but that would require exhaustive testing and only apply to a SINGLE brand and type of cable under test. Considering no reputable manufacturer is offering CCA (and given the prohibitions against its use), I don't see the benefits of testing it exhaustively so people can feel more comfortable installing it (potentially violating code in the process). That would be irresponsible of me and would put my BICSI Certifications at risk of revocation. Each installation is different, and some home users are pushing the limits with long-distance Ethernet runs. It is not a one-size-fits-all matter. As for arcing with bad connections....oh yes, that does occur, and with solid copper, too. In fact, our keystones are specifically designed to minimize spark arc damage if they should be unplugged while running 30W and above PoE. If the pitting is not apparent right away, multiple connects/disconnects will accumulate, and it will become apparent over time (or sometimes right away). I can put this debate to rest immediately, however. Use pure solid copper conductor Ethernet for structure cable and pure stranded copper Ethernet for patch cord applications. Problem solved. - Don Shultz, trueCABLE Technical Manager
well said. throw it out😂