CCA vs Copper: Weight, Resistance and Connections
CCA has an aluminum core and copper cladding; copper is a single-metal conductor. Compare the finished designs at the same required resistance and duty, then check conductor size, weight, connections and total cost. Equal-size comparisons are useful for material properties but do not show the whole design tradeoff.
Scroll horizontally to read all columns. Keep the conditions and units with each value.
| Decision | CCA | Copper | Comparison basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construction | Aluminum core with copper cladding | Copper through the metal section | Define grade/condition and copper ratio basis |
| Section and mass | Section follows the proposed resistance target | Section follows the copper baseline | Same length, required resistance, temperature and available space |
| Joint | Composite-compatible terminal and joining process | Copper conductor terminal and joining process | Compare completed joints and exposure |
| Purchased cost | Material quantity, layers, processing and yield | Material quantity, grade, processing and yield | Use current quotations for the finished designs |