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Old Mar 28, 2018 | 04:52 PM
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auto primary wire

getting ready to order some primary wire for the truck... looking at the ads and see two specs AWG (american wire gauge) which I've seen forever
and CCA (copper coated aluminum... Chinawire) I assume AWG is better, thicker conductor..all copper... 3 times the price of CCA...,

Is the CCA worth the savings or does it have its' drawbacks ?? mainly gonna use it for switch lines and no heavy amp draw.... door , window, hood switchs to relays

tell me what you know oh gurus of wire

john
 
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Old Mar 28, 2018 | 05:51 PM
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No time to scrimp...copper!
 
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Old Mar 28, 2018 | 06:36 PM
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I've not seen everything but I have never seen CCA used in an automotive application.
 
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Old Mar 28, 2018 | 08:31 PM
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CCA (copper coated aluminum) conductors are brittle and break easily; it has been noted that even moving a patch panel or a faceplate can cause failures. Due to low tensile strength, CCA wires may also break off as a result of pulling or shearing, which can occur in packaging or during delivery. It’s also important to note that the bend radius of CCA cabling is limited.
Aluminum is very reactive, oxidizing when exposed to air. This may cause failed terminations in the network infrastructure, leading to connectivity problems. Lots of time can be spent locating and addressing these failures.
With much higher DC resistance than copper, conductors should be 60% larger than solid copper to compensate for higher resistance.
 
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Old Mar 28, 2018 | 09:12 PM
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thanks guys, just the info I was looking for copper AWG it is...

j
 
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Old Mar 28, 2018 | 09:33 PM
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First off, AWG (AKA Brown & Sharpe) only denotes wire size, not the type of wire. Even aluminum wire is measured in AWG. AWG also correlates to the wires ampacity, or the ability to carry a certain amount of current (but not voltage. Example: you can pass a million volts through a wire as thin as a pin). I don't think I would ever consider CCA wire in an automotive, and especially marine applications. Secondly, the ampacities are not the same for a given wire size.
Wire Chart
CCA wire is very prone to vibration failures because it work hardens.
 
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Old Mar 29, 2018 | 09:21 AM
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well, I got 5 rolls of 16 gauge pre-tinned copper marine wire ordered and should be here Sun-Mon (prime shipping)... funny thing I noticed was that Amazon offered an option to install it for 156.00 !! Sounds like a good deal to wire a whole truck... think I should take them up on it ???
 
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Old Mar 29, 2018 | 11:27 AM
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And miss out on all the fun!
 
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Old Mar 29, 2018 | 12:34 PM
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Originally Posted by jniolon
... funny thing I noticed was that Amazon offered an option to install it for 156.00 !! Sounds like a good deal to wire a whole truck... think I should take them up on it ???
That would be a hoot!
 
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Old Mar 29, 2018 | 07:59 PM
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Ya gotta love Amazon. I'm so happy I signed up for Amazon Prime and got free, two-day delivery!
 
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Old Mar 29, 2018 | 08:04 PM
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Beav, that is a nice little boat. Maybe you can catch a few fish with it...
 
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Old Mar 29, 2018 | 08:50 PM
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Your new Post 56 Convertible. Good choice.
 
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Old Mar 30, 2018 | 05:36 PM
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Originally Posted by topmoo
Beav, that is a nice little boat. Maybe you can catch a few fish with it...
We do o.k. with it, here on the creek, but there's a lot people around here that make fun of us for hanging cane poles over the side.
 
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Old Mar 30, 2018 | 05:43 PM
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John did you get wire loom yet ? Also on wire if you can use cross link a lot of the wire kits use it.
 
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Old Mar 30, 2018 | 08:47 PM
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I;ve been using the convuluted split plastic stuff. It's working ok... too cheap to buy the install tool so it's taking a llittle longer..

Beav... I see lots of stereo installers brag on it... wonder about return work when those big woofers shake it loose
 
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