CCA Cable vs Copper for CCTV: Why Aluminium Fails

If you are planning a CCTV installation, the cheapest-looking part of the quote can turn out to be the most expensive: the cable. The question of CCA cable vs copper comes up in almost every quote, because the two cables look almost the same from the outside. This article is based on our Tamil video above, where we cut both cables open and look at them under a microscope. Here is what we found, in plain language, and how you can protect your own cameras.

What is CCA cable, and how is it different from pure copper CCTV cable?

CCA stands for copper-clad aluminium, also called copper-coated aluminium. The conductor has a copper-coloured layer on the outside and aluminium inside. A pure copper CCTV cable, on the other hand, is copper all the way through.

When we cut both cables and zoomed in under a microscope, the difference was easy to see. The pure copper cable was copper through and through. The CCA cable only looked like copper on the outside, with aluminium inside it.

CCA cable vs copper: how to spot the difference

You do not need a microscope to be suspicious. Look for these signs:

• The scratch test. Scrape the surface of the conductor. On CCA cable, a white metal appears underneath the copper-coloured layer, because that metal is aluminium.
• Weight. Aluminium cable is very light compared with copper cable.
• Price. If someone offers you cable cheaply, there is a good chance it is aluminium.

The simplest check of all is to ask your technician, before the work starts, whether the cable being installed is pure copper, and to get that confirmed.

Is CCA cable good for CCTV? Five problems to know about

Using CCA cable for CCTV can seem fine on the day of installation. These CCA wire problems appear later, and they can affect every camera on the cable run. In the CCA cable vs copper comparison, these are the five that matter most.

1. Low voltage at the camera

Aluminium carries power less efficiently than copper. In the example from our video, if you send 12 volts through an aluminium cable, only 9 volts reach your camera. A camera running on low voltage soon needs repair, its lights can flicker on and off, and its working life becomes shorter.

2. Slow data and a stuttering picture

Data transfer over CCA cable is very slow. The live picture that should look smooth starts to stutter.

3. Overheating

Aluminium has higher resistance than copper, so a CCA cable gets too hot. When it heats up, the twisted wires inside can fuse together one by one and the cable can no longer be used. The extra heat can also increase the risk of fire when the cable carries a heavy load. If the problem returns after installation, all the wiring may have to be pulled out and redone.

4. Cores that break during installation

CCA cable is very light, and the core can snap. When technicians pull it hard through a conduit pipe, there is a strong chance that the core breaks. If you discover that there is no continuity only after cable has been laid all over the house, the money spent on wiring is wasted.

5. Failure after a year

Even a year after installation, shifting a camera slightly, or just nudging the cable, can make the lightweight core snap inside the cable.

Why CCA cable is cheaper: the CCTV cable price gap

Any CCA cable vs copper price comparison comes down to the metal. When we recorded this video in March 2026, one kilogram of copper was ₹830, while one kilogram of aluminium was ₹230. That gap is why some sellers can offer cable at a very low price. Metal prices change, but the lesson stays the same: a very cheap CCTV cable is often aluminium, not copper.

Why we use only pure copper cable for CCTV in Chennai

For 18 years, we have used only copper cable for CCTV cameras. In all those 18 years, we have not had even a single service call because of a cable fault. In the CCA cable vs copper decision, copper costs a little more at the start, and it saves you repairs, rewiring and downtime later. If anyone offers you CCA cable for free, do not use it even then.

Key takeaways

• CCA cable has an aluminium core with a copper-coloured outside; pure copper cable is copper all the way through.
• Scrape the conductor: white metal means aluminium.
• CCA causes low voltage at the camera, a stuttering picture, overheating and cores that break.
• When you weigh up CCA cable vs copper, remember that a cheap cable is often aluminium.
• Ask your technician to confirm that the cable is pure copper before the installation starts.

Frequently asked questions

Is CCA cable good for CCTV cameras?

No. In the CCA cable vs copper comparison, copper wins. As shown in our video, CCA cable causes low voltage at the camera, slow data, overheating and broken cores. We recommend pure copper cable for every CCTV installation.

How can I check whether my CCTV cable is copper or CCA?

Scrape the end of a conductor: a white metal underneath means aluminium. CCA cable also feels very light and is usually sold at a low price. The most reliable step is to ask your technician to confirm in advance that the cable is pure copper.

Will CCA cable work when it is first installed?

It can, which is why the problem is easy to miss. Our video points out that it works on the day of installation, but problems come back later. If that happens, the wiring may have to be pulled out and redone.

Planning CCTV installation in Chennai? Black Cats Group installs CCTV systems with pure copper cable. Call us on 7557755737, see our CCTV camera products and installation services, or contact us for a quote.