Unfortunately, I have no experience with CCA. From what I am finding online, its much softer and breaks more easily than copper, but it can carry more current.It carries less current for the same size copper conductors. Typically you need to use conductors one size larger than the standard #14 and #12 copper conductors for 15 and 20 amp circuits. I've never used it and since it's only become popular recently I wouldn't use it it my own home. The biggest issue right now is the wire connectors...as far as I know, the only wire connectors that have the "CC" rating that is required for copper-clad aluminum conductors is the one sold by the manufacturer of copper-clad aluminum wire.
Substantial savings for who?Contractors will cheapen up light fixtures or combine circuits to save a few bucks. If this product is actually more cost effective than regular NM, I see no reason not to use it. The problem is that there seems to be a sole supplier. I'd be a little nervous that they might get into a production issue and I can't actually get it.
I would not use it in my home or anyone else's.
Hasn't been out long enough to see if a problem will arise.
Plus as Infinity said you have to use 10 awg on 20 amp circuits and 12 awg on 15 amp circuitsThis would be my issue as much as anything. I don't think it actually matters much for the specific circuits it is intended for, but it might be an issue if someone grabs #10 AL and uses it on a 30 A circuit.
Hasn't been out long enough to see if a problem will arise.What's the difference between this stuff and what was banned in the late 60's because of fires? Copper cladding? I really don't think that that's enough to instill confidence. Is it electrically better or mechanically better? Is it safer than copper? Its only excuse for existence is to save some contractor a few dollars. That's really not a good argument for a home buyer to want it or feel comfortable with it.
What's the difference between this stuff and what was banned in the late 60's because of fires? Copper cladding? I really don't think that that's enough to instill confidence. Is it electrically better or mechanically better? Is it safer than copper? Its only excuse for existence is to save some contractor a few dollars. That's really not a good argument for a home buyer to want it or feel comfortable with it.the wire was not the cause of the fires.
-Hal
Contractors will cheapen up light fixtures or combine circuits to save a few bucks. If this product is actually more cost effective than regular NM, I see no reason not to use it. The problem is that there seems to be a sole supplier. I'd be a little nervous that they might get into a production issue and I can't actually get it.The jacket on 10 AWG NM is yellow to indicate a 20 amp conductor, however, just like with copper NM, the jacket colors are not required by the product standards or the code. Just a voluntary industry standard that all of the manufacturers have complied with...at least so far.
How many decades will "long enough" be?
This would be my issue as much as anything. I don't think it actually matters much for the specific circuits it is intended for, but it might be an issue if someone grabs #10 AL and uses it on a 30 A circuit.
Copper-clad aluminium wire (CCAW or CCA) is a dual-metal electrical conductor composed of an inner aluminium core and outer copper cladding.
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A copper strip is formed into the shape of a cylinder, while it is being wrapped around an aluminum core and the edges of the copper strip are welded together. The assembly is then pulled through a die, where the cladded wire is squeezed and stretched while also improving the bonding between the copper and the aluminum core.[1]
The primary applications of this conductor revolve around weight reduction requirements. These applications include high-quality coils, such as the voice coils in headphones or portable loudspeakers; high frequency coaxial applications, such as RF antennas and cable television distribution cables; and power cables.[citation needed]
CCA was also used in electrical wiring for buildings.[2] The copper/aluminium construction was adopted to avoid some of the problems with aluminium wire yet retain most of the cost advantage. Its low copper content makes it unattractive to copper thieves.
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CCA is also seen in counterfeit unshielded twisted pair networking cables. These cables are often less expensive than their full-copper counterparts, but the official specifications such as Category 6 require conductors to be pure copper.[3] This has exposed the manufacturers or installers of cable with fake certification to legal liabilities.[4]
The properties of copper-clad aluminium wire include:
The skin effect forces alternating current to flow on the outer periphery of any wire; in this case, the outer copper cladding of the conductor which has lower resistance than the mostly unused aluminum interior. The better conductor on the outer path causes the wire's resistance at high frequencies, where the skin effect is greater, to approach that of a pure copper wire. This improved conductivity over bare aluminum makes the copper-clad aluminium wire a good fit for radio frequency use.
The skin effect is similarly exploited in copper-clad steel wire, such as the center conductors of many coaxial cables, which are commonly used for high frequency feedlines with high strength and conductivity requirements.
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