1986 TMC 102A3 - CCA (Copper Clad Aluminum) wire

[jraynor]

Hello everyone,

Has anyone ever used CCA wiring? Its stranded wire which is good but its also not OFC (Oxygen Free Copper) wiring like most copper wire is. I bought some not paying attention and am trying to decide to return it or use it. I've heard from one that there isn't any real concern with using it and thought id get some more opinions.

[richard5933]

In my opinion, return it.

Mixing metals doesn't usually end well, especially in a vehicle subject to pretty severe air, moisture, and temperature variations, as well as constant vibration and movement. There are lots of potential problems with CCA, and other than lower cost I'm not sure what the advantages would be in using it.

If you can return it, that's what I'd suggest and what I would do.

[Geoff]

I used stranded boat wire-- the best.

[bevans6]

To an extent it depends on what you are going to use the wire for.  It's copper clad, so it can be used with typical terminals and copper wire without corrosion issues.  It's ampacity is less than equivalent copper, so you can't put as much current through it as you might expect.  It's quite fragile and prone to cracking, and has a larger bend radius than copper.  It's stranded so technically acceptable under screw terminals, but really it sucks for that.  I might use it for speaker wires, for 12vdc with LED loads, in chaseways so the wire is continuously supported, but not really otherwise.  I wouldn't use it for 120VAC wiring.

[jraynor]

To an extent it depends on what you are going to use the wire for.  It's copper clad, so it can be used with typical terminals and copper wire without corrosion issues.  It's ampacity is less than equivalent copper, so you can't put as much current through it as you might expect.  It's quite fragile and prone to cracking, and has a larger bend radius than copper.  It's stranded so technically acceptable under screw terminals, but really it sucks for that.  I might use it for speaker wires, for 12vdc with LED loads, in chaseways so the wire is continuously supported, but not really otherwise.  I wouldn't use it for 120VAC wiring.

Yeah the main reason I was looking for 16 and 18 gauge was for the 12v and 24v things. I had to make a new harness for my heated mirrors and 14AWG worked but was bigger than desired. I'm re-wring something's so the 10 colors was nice. As for 120v I'm still deciding. I did see some marine wire so that may be the go to. Unless I can find some SO cable at a good price which I'll snag.

While I'm talking about wire, has anyone considered using landscaping wire for the 12/24 volt stuff?

It's rated 150v and is sunlight resistant and it's a thick coating to fight against rubbing. It's also available from 12  to 16 gauge. I can't see any negative other than there is no coloring to it and you have to go by the side that is stamped to tell the wires apart. I've seen wiring in sticks and Staples and it's the same looking wire except it's white and has a strip down one side

[Jim Eh.]

From https://help.leonardo-energy.org/hc/en-us/articles/202823322-Thermal-expansion-Copper-vs-aluminium

Thermal expansion is the tendency of matter to change in volume in response to a change in temperature, through heat transfer. This property is measured by the thermal linear expansion coefficient; defined as the fractional change in length of a particular material for each degree of temperature change. The thermal linear coefficients of expansion for aluminium and copper per degree centigrade are:

Copper 17∙10E-6
Aluminium 23∙10E-6
In other words, the coefficient of thermal expansion for aluminium is 35% greater than that of copper. This characteristic is of concern when we study the expansion and contraction of conductors in electrical connections during thermal cycling.

Hmmm... should work well 

[kyle4501]

I would return it. In my opinion, the potential for a problem exceeds any possible benefit.

I prefer tinned copper boat cabling - mechanically better all the way around.