CCS Wire (Copper-Clad Steel Wire)
1. Common CCA Wire Diameters & Reel Sizes
| Wire Diameter | Common Applications | Typical Reel Size | Reel Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.12 mm | Braided shielding (coaxial, LAN, HDMI, USB) | ABS φ200–250 mm | 2–5 kg (fine wire) |
| 0.18 mm | Braiding, flexible stranded wires (e.g., 16×0.18mm) | ABS φ250 mm | 5–10 kg |
| 0.20 mm | Stranded cores (7×0.20mm, 16×0.20mm), speaker/audio wire | ABS φ250 mm | 5–10 kg (bulk use) |
2. Key Features
Structure: Steel core + copper cladding
Conductivity: ~20–40% IACS (varies with copper thickness)
Tensile Strength: Much higher than copper or CCA
Solderable: Copper outer layer enables easy soldering
Anti-Theft: Harder to cut—often used in public installations
Corrosion Resistance: Good, due to copper surface
3. Typical Applications
Coaxial cable center conductor (e.g. RG6, RG59)
Drop wires in telecom systems
Grounding wires and lightning protection
Antennas and radio transmission
Anti-theft cable systems
4. CCS vs. CCA vs. CCAM vs. Al-Mg Wire Comparison Table
| Property | CCS (Copper-Clad Steel) | CCA (Copper-Clad Aluminum) | CCAM (Copper-Clad Al-Mg) | Al-Mg (Aluminum-Magnesium) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core Material | Steel | Aluminum | Aluminum-Magnesium alloy | Aluminum-Magnesium alloy |
| Conductivity | ★☆☆ (~20–40% IACS) | ★★☆ (~60% IACS) | ★★☆ (~55–65% IACS) | ★☆☆ (~50–60% IACS) |
| Tensile Strength | ★★★ (Very High) | ★☆ (Low) | ★★☆ (Medium-High) | ★★☆ (Medium-High, varies by temper) |
| Weight | ★☆☆ (Heaviest) | ★★★ (Very Light) | ★★☆ (Light) | ★★★ (Lightest) |
| Flexibility | ★☆ (Poor) | ★★☆ (Moderate) | ★★☆ (Good) | ★★★ (Excellent, soft temper) |
| Solderability | ★★☆ (Good – copper surface) | ★★☆ (Good – copper surface) | ★★☆ (Good – copper surface) | ☆☆☆ (Poor – bare aluminum) |
| Corrosion Resistance | ★★☆ (Good, copper clad) | ★★ (Moderate) | ★★☆ (Better than CCA) | ★★★ (Excellent) |
| Cost | ★☆ (Low-Mid) | ★★ (Low) | ★★☆ (Mid) | ★★☆ (Low-Mid) |
| Common Uses | Coaxial core, grounding, telecom drop lines | LAN, coaxial, speaker wire | HDMI, USB, flexible LAN | Braided shielding, overhead cables |
5. Quick Summary
1. CCS: Best for strength and anti-theft; suitable for coaxial cable cores and grounding wires; poor flexibility and low conductivity.
2. CCA: Economical for LAN, coaxial, and speaker wires; moderate performance, low weight.
3. CCAM: Balanced option with better strength and flexibility than CCA; ideal for high-flex applications like HDMI/USB.
4. Al-Mg: Best weight-to-strength ratio; widely used in braided shielding and aerial cables; not solderable.
