Copper Clad Wire Solutions Guide for Power
and Data Communications Applications
The Better Alternative to Solid Copper
Copper Clad Steel (CCS)
IEEE Std 80-2000 acknowledged the problem more than 10 years ago. “Copper-clad
steel is usually used for underground rods and occasionally for grounding grids, especially
where theft is a problem...”
CommScope’s copper clad steel is more economical both short term and long term and
offers the following features:
• Excellent current carrying capacity
• Lower weight per liner foot
• Durability and flexibility
• Low impedance path
• Excellent fusing current capabilities
• Significantly greater fatigue resistance than solid copper
Proper Product Sizing for Copper Clad Steel Grounding Applications
Diameter
Circular Mils
Solid No. 6 AWG
0.162
26,250
Solid No. 4 AWG
0.204
No. 2 AWG Strand
“After repeated copper thefts at our
sub-stations it became apparent that it
wasn’t going to end until we broke the
cycle. We began replacing the stolen
copper wire with copper clad steel...
with our sub-stations having since been
left alone.“
Solid No. 1 AWG
Jim Hixson,
Purchasing Manager, NW Electric Cooperative
“We started buying copper clad steel
ground wire to repair and install on all
new construction. Our yard has not been
broken in again. In the end, this will be
our best deterrent. It’s not worth their time.”
What Our Customers are Saying:
Copper Clad Steel 40% DSA Copper Product Size
Size
Diameter
Circular Mils
Solid No. 6 AWG* 0.162
26,250
41,738
Solid No. 4 AWG* 0.204
41,738
0.292
66,407
7 No. 9 AWG
0.343
91,651
0.289
83,683
7 No. 8 AWG
0.385
115,568
1/0 Strand
0.368
105,521
7 No. 7 AWG
0.433
145,726
2/0 Strand
0.414
133,057
7 No. 6 AWG
0.486
183,754
3/0 Strand
0.464
167,779
7 No. 5 AWG
0.546
231,706
4/0 Strand
0.552
211,563
19 No. 9 AWG
0.572
248,767
250 MCM
0.574
250,000
19 No. 8 AWG
0.642
313,684
300 MCM
0.629
300,000
19 No. 7 AWG
0.721
395,542
400 MCM
0.726
400,000
19 No. 6 AWG
0.810
498,762
500 MCM
0.813
500,000
19 No. 5 AWG
0.910
628,917
Notes: The copper clad wire shown in this table are not of equal ampacity to copper.
Rob Schwartz,
Operations Manager, Miami-Cass REMC
www.commscope.com
According to RUS certification, #6 copper clad steel is an acceptable replacement for #6 solid copper, unless neutral is greater than
1/0 ACSR. In this case, a larger size, such as #4 copper clad steel should be used.
*Pole ground use only
Quality Products
Available in a variety of gauges, engineered as single or stranded wire, CommScope
CCS ground wire is ideal for all your grounding applications. Copper clad steel is
available in 30% and 40% DSA (dead-soft annealed) and meets ASTM B-193, ASTM
B-452, ASTM B-227, ASTM B-228 and ASTM B-910 requirements and is RUS (Rural
Utilities Service) listed. Allbimetallic products are processed at the company’s ISO9001
and ISO14001 certified facility located in Statesville, North Carolina.
Copper Clad Wire Solutions Guide for Data
and Power Communications Applications
The Better Alternative to Solid Copper
Copper Clad Aluminum (CCA)
THHN for Indoor Applications
For indoor power handling and grounding applications, CCA is an ideal and costefficient substitute for solid copper. Excellent conductivity and low weight-to-volume
ratio make it especially suited for power handling installations involving long runs.
Other benefits of using CCA wire for power handling and grounding include:
CommScope CCA
NEC 310 Conductors
4 AWG (top) and 6 AWG shown above
•Direct connectivity with solid copper wire
•Thermal expansion equal to solid copper
•Solder connection equal to solid Copper
•Compatible with all twist-on connectors and wire nuts
CommScope’s Copper-clad aluminum products are now available in UL-approved
THHN (Thermoplastic High Heat-resistant PVC/Nylon-coated) 600 volt applications,
meeting NEC code. These provide lower cost alternatives to solid copper for dry
and damp applications and those requiring flame retardant and high heat (up to 90
degrees Celsius) protection.
Comparable AWG Sizes
CCA
Solid Copper
#0 #2
#2 #4
#4 #6
#6 #8
#8
#10
#10
#12
#12
#14
Quality Products
Available in a variety of gauges, engineered as single or stranded wire, CommScope
CCA is ideal for all your indoor grounding and powering applications. Copper
Clad Aluminum is available 10% and 15% copper by volume per ASTM standards.
All jacked products meet NEC requirements for size, conductivity, and flame code.
(NEC 310, UL 83) All bimetallic products are processed at the company’s ISO
9001 and ISO 14001 certified facility in Statesville, NC.
www.commscope.com
© 2012 CommScope, Inc. All rights reserved.
Visit our website at www.commscope.com or contact your local CommScope representative or BusinessPartner for more information.
All trademarks identified by ® or ™ are registered trademarks or trademarks, respectively, of CommScope, Inc.
This document is for planning purposes only and is not intended to modify or supplement any specifications or warranties relating to CommScope products or services.
BR-106357-EN • 12.12