CAT6 Pure Copper vs CCA Cable for PoE CCTV: A Dealer Buying Guide
For PoE IP CCTV installations, specify standards-compliant copper Ethernet cable and verify the exact cable datasheet. Do not treat CCA cable as an equivalent replacement just because its label says CAT6. The enquiry should identify conductor material, individual run lengths, installation environment and the camera’s power requirements.
This guide helps dealers and installers compare cable requirements before requesting a bulk quotation. It does not certify a cable model or replace the project’s installation specification.
What is the difference between pure copper and CCA cable?
CCA means copper-clad aluminium: an aluminium core with a copper outer layer. Pure-copper conductors are copper throughout. Separately, “solid” and “stranded” describe conductor construction, so the word “solid” alone does not establish that a cable is pure copper.
| Buying check | Copper cable | CCA cable |
|---|---|---|
| Conductor material | Ask for an explicit copper conductor specification. | Aluminium core with copper cladding. |
| PoE selection | Specify a compliant cable suitable for the intended equipment and installation. | Do not substitute it for compliant copper Ethernet cabling in a PoE design. |
| Evidence to request | Exact model datasheet and relevant test documentation. | Material disclosure; a category label alone does not demonstrate compliance. |
| Quotation comparison | Compare like-for-like construction and documented requirements. | Keep a different conductor material on a separate enquiry line. |
Belden’s technical explanation describes CCA construction and warns against its use as a replacement for standards-compliant category network cabling. This is general manufacturer guidance, not a test of a LiveView product.
Why conductor material matters for PoE cameras
PoE carries power as well as data over the Ethernet connection. Fluke Networks identifies increased DC resistance in CCA as a concern: it increases cable heating and leaves less voltage available at the powered device. Its CCA application note specifically warns that these cables do not support PoE applications.
A camera powering on during a short demonstration is not sufficient evidence that the installed cable meets the project requirements. Ask the installer to assess the complete link and operating conditions before approving the cable selection.
Six details to include in a CAT6 cable enquiry
- Conductor: state copper explicitly when the design requires it; request the exact construction and conductor size from the datasheet.
- Run schedule: list each camera-to-network connection separately. A coil length describes the supplied quantity, not the permitted length of one installed link.
- Power: give camera and PoE switch or injector model numbers. Have the installer confirm power requirements and the complete cable path.
- Environment: identify indoor, exposed outdoor, ducted or buried sections. Ask for documented suitability rather than assuming “outdoor” covers every routing condition.
- Terminations: include the intended connectors, patch leads and termination components, with compatibility checked for the selected cable.
- Handover: agree the test scope and the records required before the order is finalised.
For the wider camera and accessory list, use our CCTV wholesale enquiry checklist. If the system type is still undecided, the IP versus analog CCTV guide explains why the equipment and cabling choices need to be considered together.
What testing should a dealer ask about?
Ask what will be tested, against which specification, and how the results will identify each installed link. Fluke Networks’ DC resistance unbalance guidance explains that conductor balance matters for PoE, and that cable quality and termination practices can affect it. Discuss appropriate cable certification and PoE-related tests with the installer; do not describe a basic connectivity check as full certification.
Reading the LiveView cable listings
The catalog currently lists a CAT6 Outdoor Pure Copper Network Cable, advertised as a 305m coil, and a separate CAT6 CCA Outdoor Network Cable listing with 100m, 200m and 300m options. These are the descriptions advertised in the catalog, not independently verified material or performance results. The CCA listing is included here to distinguish the materials, not as a PoE recommendation.
Before ordering from the cables and installation accessories range, request confirmation of the exact model, conductor specification, supplied length and available technical documentation. Share the equipment list from your IP CCTV project alongside the cable requirement.
Frequently asked questions
Does CAT6 on the box prove that the conductor is copper?
No. Verify the material specification and supporting documentation for the actual model. A category label is not a substitute for that check.
Does an outdoor cable label confirm suitability for direct burial?
Do not assume it does. Describe the proposed route and request the cable manufacturer’s documented installation conditions.
Can I choose a cable using coil length alone?
No. Supplied coil length and individual installed link length are different requirements. Send a run schedule so cable quantity and the network design can be checked separately.
Preparing a dealer order? Send LiveView a cable enquiry with the conductor requirement, quantities, run schedule and equipment models.
For a Mumbai dealer enquiry, use the LiveView Mumbai store contact details and share the selected cable product links alongside your installation requirements. Request confirmation of the exact model and current commercial terms before comparing quotations.
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