Which conductor is the King it's hard to say as both Pure Copper Cables and CCA cables are frequently used for temporary or long-term use. If you are going to install the cable for gigabit speed or at the office, and dealing in bulk transmission or receiving Copper Cable is the one you need.
In copper cables, there is Cat5e cable, Cat6 cable, or Cat6a cable but it's not easy to choose the cable for your networking applications. If you are happy with the gigabit speed simply order Cat5e copper cable. But if you are planning to run cable at a longer length Cat6 solid copper cable can be used for this purpose. But if you have the maximum budget then you can buy Cat6a copper cable. Selecting an ethernet cable for your infrastructure is more confusing when you observe the issues of the cable and not meeting the other specs. So how to select the cable for better transmission speed and how does it alter the quality of your internet speed and performance?
There is no comparison between Copper and Bare copper ethernet cables but when it comes to ethernet cables like Cat5e and Cat6, studying CCA conductors is necessary. You might have to look at some specifications for installing a proper ethernet cable, either pure copper cable or copper-clad aluminum (CCA).
You might be stuck when you know little about Cat6 copper cable cable specifications and which cable is more suitable for your setup.
There are two types of ethernet cables available in the market: pure copper and copper-clad aluminum cables. You might be in a dilemma to choose among the most appropriate cables that are suitable for your network.
The cable has no major difference if you look at it visually, but if you rip the jacket of ethernet cable you might see a major difference which might change your buying decision. These cables are best suitable at 50 meters in length and are the remedy for short-term use.
Copper-Clad Aluminum (CCA) Cable
Cat5e CCA cables are also cost-efficient which might save you some money at that time but the result might be fatal as it doesn’t match your server or is not suitable for installation.
Cat6 CCA cables are made up of low-cost materials. This cable is aluminum with copper coating. This cable has aluminum wire soaked in a thin layer of copper to save money.
The manufacturer used this technique to save money and ended up making inexpensive ethernet cables. You often see bulk cables like Bulk Cat5e CCA Cable or 1000ft Cat6 CCA Cable. The ideal length of the ethernet cable to install is 100 meters or 328ft. However, CCA conductors are more prone to be attracted by signal interference.
Features of CCA Cable
Copper-clad aluminum cables have some advantages which might include.
- CCA cable is lighter than pure copper.
- Cost-efficient than copper cables
- Easily be transported and racking
- Softer than pure copper
Pure Copper Cable
These are the ideal cables for installation, as the name tells the story the cables are not mixed with other materials and can be used for high-speed data transfer or provide high bandwidth.
This type of cable is suitable for longer distances of up to 100 meters in length. Pure copper cable is mostly preferred over CCA cables.
Why Pure Copper Cable Over CCA?
When thinking of ethernet wiring, pure copper is the more stable and long-lasting option to buy. It has ductile properties and can be utilized for making quality cables.
The copper cable is more versatile and valuable for their specifications and due to its top-notch strength the cable is maintenance-free. The main thing about pure copper wire is that they are long-lasting and runs over a longer length of almost 7 to 8 years of life span.
These cables undergo various strain tests and show little wear and tear. It means they are excellent at installing in complex places.
All these aspects show that copper cables are worthy of installation and are cost-effective but not all cables are cost-effective due to some specifications. Read more…
The benefits of Using Pure Copper Ethernet Cables are described below.
- Fast Speed
- Reliability
- High Bandwidth
- Low electrical resistance
- Safety and Compliance
- Quality Speed and Performance
- Anti-corrosion properties
- Longer lifespan
- Improved performance against Crosstalk
Which One to Choose? CCA or Copper Cable
The selection is a simple process if you are fully aware of all the aspects and specifications that you might need. But it's a tough decision for those who might know little.
Well, let me explain to you which is the best option for you to buy and enjoy the rest of the day.
The strength of copper cable is much higher than the CCA cables, as the end product undergoes various experiments and the results are quite far better than CCA cable.
In contrast to CCA cables, they are often brittle and can tear when it gets heated or burned. Though it does not happen usually, as the wire gets old you can face these problems.
Copper cables show an almost different response, pure copper cables when exposed to fire or heat retain their shape and are unmolded.
Hazards Associated With CCA Cables
Some drawbacks reflect the quality of CCA cables. CCA is an aluminum wire coated with a thin copper layer. The main disadvantages of CCA cables are they are not flexible, brittle to heat, and are not long-lasting.
The main issue for CCA cables is, that aluminum along with steel has a much higher resistance than copper. This leads to cable overheating when current or signals pass through the cables and results in fire.
Aluminum is far more brittle than copper and can be broken during installation which ends up an additional cost. CCA cables are also prone to fatigue at some point of termination which can generate random faults in the cable.
Final Thought
Overall, internal features of CCA and pure copper cable are under consideration and can be installed, but make sure to confirm the location before installing the ethernet cable and also the standard you want.
Cost-effective looks very fascinating but it might be costly if the cable is not meeting your requirements.
As most users install and forget if you want the same go for the best options available in the market and install the quality pure copper cable and benefit from its proper performance.
It sounds bad “my internet is slow” but the server might be down it is also possible that this is because your cable is not supporting your bandwidth speed and is not able to work properly.