sundance-communications.com/forum Forums Wiring - Telecom Carriers - Trunks & Services Cabling Telephones Systems Wiring CCA wiring for SL2100 digital handsets?

I’m installing nec phone system with 8 handsets in prewired office right now, at the same time IT guy was setting computers and ran into an issue with gigabit network switch registering at 100mb. As he found out all cables are copper clad aluminum not copper. He walked away from the job asking a builder to replace cables, pay extra to do everything over WiFi or hire another IT company.
Builder is asking me if I can still use CCA for phones or it has to be replaced too. I have no idea, that’s why I’m here.
I already plugged 2 phones at reception desk (30ft away) and they work fine.
He doesn’t mind replacing wires, it’s not about the cost, some of cabling is done under the floor through another tenant space which can only be accessed next weekend.
Any thoughts?

This is what Belden says about CCA:

https://www.belden.com/blog/digital...er-clad-aluminum-is-a-recipe-for-failure

Does anyone certify cables anymore?

Install the wire.Certify it. If it passes, it's good. If it doesn't - well.....


Sam

The problem is CCA cable is not listed for use. This is a code violation and an insurance nightmare if something goes wrong. If the installer was contracted to install Listed and compliant cable then they have a breach of contract.

So someone bought the cheapest cable they could find and is now shocked to find that they're having trouble?

#nosympathy


Sam

" Cheap Cable " That is the finest cable made in Turdmanistan ! LOL .

Electrician pulled these cables, but he didn’t buy them, Dr brought 2 boxes of left overs from his house project and asked him to use it, according to Dr they worked very well for more than a year. Dr is blaming electrician for doing poor job terminating patch panel and jacks (I agree with him, some pairs are separated for 1-2”). Builder didn’t have low voltage in his scope of work, he let Dr to hire whoever he likes and he did hire his electrical sub. I bidded on wiring too, but didn’t get it, now I know why:)
Back my to my question, will cca work for digital handsets? I know they are not UL listed, not suitable for PoE applications, don’t meet the code and pure junk in general
According to nec hardware manual cable run cannot exceed 300ft, I’m guessing due to resistance, cca has higher resistance but in theory should work for short distances.
Builder referred me to this Dr and many other clients in the past and asking me to be loyal, close my eyes and get it done. So I did would rather loose money on install than loose a builder.
Will keep you posted

Two strikes against you:

1) The person buying the cable knows NOTHING about the industry: "CCA cables are not compliant with UL and TIA standards, both of which required solid or stranded copper conductors."

2) The electrician does not know how to terminate category cable.

"Another issue with CCA is its higher dc resistance compared to copper (about 55% greater), which doesn’t bode well for PoE applications. Greater dc resistance causes greater heating of the cable and reduced power available at the PoE device. As we move to higher power PoE Plus applications, dc resistance will become an even greater concern."

"While some CCA cables may be accurately labeled as such, when a CCA cable is labeled as a category cable (i.e., category 5e, 6 or 6A) or as being CMR or CMP rated, it is counterfeit cable and might not comply with industry performance standards or pass UL fire safety testing, posing an even greater risk."

These are from the Belden website as I posted earlier. If you read it carefully you will have your answer.

Either way YOU will get the blame when it fails because it is YOUR equipment and YOU approved the wiring.

I totally agree with you that I’ll be the one to blame if phone system fails, despite the fact that I DID NOT approve the wiring. From the liability stand point I have myself covered, my contract clearly states what I will do and will not do.
Besides, phone guy always being blamed, I’m used to it, even thought 9 our of 10 it’s unrelated, either user doesn’t not how to use a phone, IT making changes, provider goes down...

Just say no.