What is CCA cable?
CCA means Copper-Clad Aluminum. The conductor has an aluminum core with a layer of copper around it. That is different from a conductor made from copper throughout.
The attraction is straightforward: aluminum is less expensive than copper, so CCA cable can be sold at a lower price. That can make a material quote look competitive—especially when a customer is comparing proposals only by the words “Cat6” or “Cat6 cable.”
Why solid copper costs more
Copper is a more conductive material than aluminum. In network cabling, that matters because the cable is not merely carrying digital information. Many modern Ethernet links also carry electrical power through Power over Ethernet (PoE) for wireless access points, IP cameras, VoIP phones, access-control devices and other equipment.
Fluke Networks notes that non-compliant CCA conductors exhibit higher DC resistance than 100% copper, and its CCA application guidance warns about non-standard conductors being sold as Category-rated cabling. FS also identifies higher electrical resistance, voltage drop and PoE limitations as significant disadvantages of CCA compared with pure copper.
| Consideration | Solid Copper | CCA |
|---|---|---|
| Conductor | Copper throughout | Aluminum core with copper coating |
| Electrical resistance | Lower | Higher |
| PoE | Appropriate conductor choice for standards-based Category cabling and PoE designs when properly sized/installed | Higher resistance increases voltage drop and heating concerns, especially as power levels rise |
| Mechanical robustness | Generally more tolerant of normal termination and handling | Aluminum core can be more mechanically vulnerable |
| Initial material price | Higher | Usually lower |
| Best Networks policy | Yes | No |
The hidden problem with a low cabling bid
Suppose Contractor A and Contractor B both quote “Cat6.” One proposal is noticeably cheaper. If the cheaper installer is using CCA while the other is using proper copper conductors, the customer is not actually comparing equivalent installations.
Once cable is above ceilings, inside walls or routed through a warehouse, replacing it can cost far more than the original material savings. The labor, lift rental, access restrictions, ceiling work, downtime and retesting can easily outweigh the small savings realized on the cable itself.
Why PoE makes conductor quality even more important
Ethernet is increasingly used as a power-distribution method. Wireless access points, phones, cameras and building devices may draw power through the same twisted-pair cabling carrying their network traffic.
Higher conductor resistance means additional voltage drop and additional heat. Fluke Networks specifically identifies CCA and other non-standard conductors as having higher DC resistance and resistance-unbalance concerns. That is one reason material quality becomes more—not less—important as businesses deploy more PoE devices.
Can CCA still make a cable “work”?
That is the wrong acceptance test. Many marginal installations can establish a link under favorable conditions. A professional commercial cabling system should be evaluated against its intended application, category performance, distance, PoE requirements, installation environment and applicable standards—not simply whether two Ethernet lights turn on.
Our philosophy: price matters, but false economy costs more
Best Networks understands that customers have budgets. We will look for legitimate ways to control cost: reuse appropriate pathways, match Cat6 versus Cat6A to the actual need, avoid unnecessary rack replacement, stage projects, or separate required work from recommended improvements.
What we will not do is quietly substitute CCA cable to reduce the proposal price.
We would rather explain the difference and let the customer make an informed decision about scope than install infrastructure that we would not want supporting our own network.
What should be written into your cabling specification?
- Category and performance requirement: Cat6, Cat6A, etc.
- 100% copper conductors — no CCA.
- Required jacket/fire rating: CMP, CMR or other project-specific requirement.
- Conductor gauge where relevant to the design.
- Approved manufacturer or equivalent quality requirements.
- Patch panels, jacks and patch-cord category requirements.
- Testing/certification requirement.
- Labeling and closeout documentation.
Technical references: FS, “CCA Cable vs Copper Cable: What You Need to Know”; Fluke Networks, “Copper Clad Aluminum (CCA) Cables”; Fluke Networks, “DC Resistance Unbalance: What You Need to Know.”
Comparing cabling proposals?
Send us the scope. We can help identify whether the bids are actually specifying equivalent materials and testing.