TLC's UTP CAT5e cable is Copper Clad Aluminium!?

eveares

eveares

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According to this page and TLC's printed brochure, the 50M and 100M cuts of the internal UTP CAT5e cable are CCA over 0.5mm Aluminium and are not pure copper.

Despite reading online that CCA CAT5e cable is non compliment, I can't find anything in the TIA-EIA-568-B.2 standard what says solid copper has to be used with UTP CAT5e cable. (It does mention solid copper for ScTP/STP cable however.)

Although using CCA UTP CAT5e cable over long distances alongside PoE seems a poor way to go in my opinion.

Whats your thought on CCA CAT5e cable vs pure copper?

Regards: Elliott.
 
Avoid CCA for fixed wiring. The cable is such a small part of the total cost of the job it's pointless to skimp on it. You might tolerate it for patch leads which are easily replaceable when they fail.
 
Skinflints!

I bet they charge the same as a copper cable too.
 
For the sake of a few quid do it properly. Solid copper all the way. CCA only exists for cheap skate profiteering.
 
OwainDIYer said:
Avoid CCA for fixed wiring. The cable is such a small part of the total cost of the job it's pointless to skimp on it. You might tolerate it for patch leads which are easily replaceable when they fail.
Click to expand...
And the (potential) cost of network problems resulting from flaky leads?
 
CCA appears to be as good as solid copper in terms of carrying data signals.

DISCLAIMER The following is based on experience of good quality CCA some years ago

The problem with CCA is terminating the conductors. Most CCA is not suitable for IDC ( punch down ) connectors as the softer aluminium core deforms too easily and the pressure on the IDC fork is too low to create the cold weld between the copper and the IDC fork. The joint will work well to begin with but over time it will degrade to the point where it may fail.

Some CCA has a harder grade of aluminium, possible intended to improve the ICD joints but this comes with the disadvantage that the conductor is brittle and prone to breaking both at terminations and if the cable is kinked and then pulled straight during installation

Terminations of CCA in cage clamp connectors have seemed to remain in good condition for many years.

There are on the market some very poor CCA cables from poor quality manufacturers. These cables are often produced using impure metals and the copper coating varies in thickness along the cable at places being thin enough to be electrically insignificant.
 
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I visited TLC in Southampton recently, looking for some cat5e and had concerns over being sold CCA. I was relieved when they produced a reel of solid copper stuff and told me that is the only stuff they stock.
 
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