ofc and cca wire

[dragon123443 3]

What's the difference between the wire? I need amp wire and wire for my big 3 .. I will be using knuconceptz and a Rockford fosgate punch 1000 watt

[EPerez 236]

Go with weldingsupply.com wire. It's cheaper and it's OFC. OFC is oxygen free copper and CCA is copper clad aluminum. OFC allows more current to go through.

[95Honda 486]

CCA is a gimmick brought out by car audio companies.  It is 100% not worth the money or time.  People who will tell you otherwise do not understand how current flow through different metals works...

[Shogen 325]

What's the difference between the wire? I need amp wire and wire for my big 3 .. I will be using knuconceptz and a Rockford fosgate punch 1000 watt

like stated above by the other members.... also do a search, this topic has been covered many many times .... OFC is what you want and it is worth the price as it is something you won't be changing out constantly so better to do it right the first time ... !

[Godsmack 361]

Easiest way to say it, Would you pass water from faucet to tub with a colander or a bucket?

Colander= coca

Bucket= ofc

J

[dragon123443 3]

Dang you guys cleared it up clearly lol

[dragon123443 3]

Us this welding wire flexible?

[Shogen 325]

Us this welding wire flexible?

yes

[ricksi30 923]

Us this welding wire flexible?

yes

It isn't AS flexible, but for most installs it is fine.

[MikeMartel 64]

To be honest iv seen many many high end installs done with CCA..   Amperage rating is only 50 amps different between CCA and OFC.  I know that Sky High Audio's Truck uses all CCA for sure, along with many other big ground pounder builds.

[Godsmack 361]

To be honest iv seen many many high end installs done with CCA..   Amperage rating is only 50 amps different between CCA and OFC.  I know that Sky High Audio's Truck uses all CCA for sure, along with many other big ground pounder builds.

I've also seen 'high end' audio builds use Audiobahn, BOSS, Sony (not mobile ES), and other various bullshit companies, so what's your point?

Add in that a 50 ampere loss is dependent on numerous variables and as such the number can go up or down.

J

[pmureika 31]

What about just using copper wire thats not ofc?

[altoncustomtech 773]

To be honest iv seen many many high end installs done with CCA..   Amperage rating is only 50 amps different between CCA and OFC.  I know that Sky High Audio's Truck uses all CCA for sure, along with many other big ground pounder builds.

I've also seen 'high end' audio builds use Audiobahn, BOSS, Sony (not mobile ES), and other various bullshit companies, so what's your point?

Add in that a 50 ampere loss is dependent on numerous variables and as such the number can go up or down.

J

 

True, but if the applicaiton isn't requiring every last bit of current and voltage through the wire then what does it hurt?  I have personally done several installs that are using lower powered amps in setups that the persons who own the vehicle will not be competing or even running to it's limits and they've had no issues whatsoever.

 

I agree that in any application where maximum current flow with minimum voltage drop OFC wins hands down, but for the average persons average install CCA isn't going to hurt a damned thing.

[pmureika 31]

The difference in copper wire.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxygen-free_copper

[swift 501]

I have seen Knu CCA turn dusty and brittle in just one year also. Never seen the OFC do this. Not that fast. IMO if its just a summer or comp build and you change a lot the CCA is fine. But if its going in and you don't plan on removing anytime soon to with a nice OFC for sure

[pmureika 31]

But not all copper wire is oxygen free. Only if it is 99.97 percent. Some wire that is available is only 99.5 %.

[95Honda 486]

There is never a reason, ever to use CCA other than wanting to see a big ass diameter wire for a cheaper price.  It is 100% gimmick, seriously.  You can't make a blanket statement like 50 amps less, or pushing the wire to it's limits.  The variables in comparing the wire vary much more than that.  Aluminum wire of the same gauge as copper (CCA or just plain aluminum) is inferior in every way at every current level.  It Is more brittle, more prone to connection interface loss, and greatly inferior as far as cooper loss (resistance).

 

You can tie 00 welding cable in a knot smaller than your fist.  If you ever do an install with a bending radius less than that, you are asking for trouble with any type of wire.

 

Welding cable will also handle heat, abrasions and chemical wear better than ANY car audio power wire.

[95Honda 486]

To be honest iv seen many many high end installs done with CCA..   Amperage rating is only 50 amps different between CCA and OFC.  I know that Sky High Audio's Truck uses all CCA for sure, along with many other big ground pounder builds.

 

Well, they obviously know what they are doing with everything, except DC current transfer.

[smashedz28 110]

I'm gonna defend CCA. I've used it in 4 builds so far and no trouble. For someone on a budget and not going extreme I recommend it. Now I do own OFC and plan to run that later on a more serious build. OFC is for sure better. But I can't seem to believe cca is useless.

[dragon123443 3]

I went to my local welding shop today and seen there 4 gauge wire .. its not as thick as the cca wire I have now.. but since its ofc.I'm guessing it makes up for it?

[pmureika 31]

Are you planning to upgrade in the future? If so use 1/0 gauge.

[dragon123443 3]

the most my amp accepts is 4

[pmureika 31]

They make adapters.

[dragon123443 3]

yeah Ive seen them

[Impious 1,476]

I went to my local welding shop today and seen there 4 gauge wire .. its not as thick as the cca wire I have now.. but since its ofc.I'm guessing it makes up for it?

Looks can be deceiving.  Different construction methods can make one wire look thicker than another even though they might have the same conductor area....which is all wire gauge is based on.

 

But in addition to that yes, OFC doesn't need the same conductor area as CCA to transfer the same (or more) current since OFC has less resistance.