gm280
Supreme Mariner
- Joined
- Jun 26, 2011
- Messages
- 14,602
Probably not the correct forum to post this in, but here goes anyways.
Recently I needed to wire up a utility trailer with new LED lights and the supplied wire kit. However, after two days of soldering each and every connection to include separate grounds to the trailer AND back to the plug harness, only one side marker light worked when I tested it all out.
You can imagine my total shock see this. I've wired lots of trailers and such and never had any issues with any lights failing to work. SOOOOOOO I got out the Fluke multimeter and started testing to see what was wrong. To my amazement, seems the cheap crappy wire had breaks inside the insulation. AND not just one place or two. Many breaks inside the insulation. So I removed every wire and bought quality new wires to do it all again.
As I researched such wires I notice a lot of wire listed as CCA wire. I thought this was some great new quality version they came out with... Not even close! CCA actually stands for Copper Clad Aluminum. Seems they are now trying to pawn off wire that on the surface looks nice, but it merely copper plated aluminum... Not for me, but I didn't know if I was the last human being to know what is going on in the wire industry. Of course this type wire is coming from an out of country source...for figure that out, not hard! Just thought I would post about it so other can be award of CCA wire...
Recently I needed to wire up a utility trailer with new LED lights and the supplied wire kit. However, after two days of soldering each and every connection to include separate grounds to the trailer AND back to the plug harness, only one side marker light worked when I tested it all out.
You can imagine my total shock see this. I've wired lots of trailers and such and never had any issues with any lights failing to work. SOOOOOOO I got out the Fluke multimeter and started testing to see what was wrong. To my amazement, seems the cheap crappy wire had breaks inside the insulation. AND not just one place or two. Many breaks inside the insulation. So I removed every wire and bought quality new wires to do it all again.
As I researched such wires I notice a lot of wire listed as CCA wire. I thought this was some great new quality version they came out with... Not even close! CCA actually stands for Copper Clad Aluminum. Seems they are now trying to pawn off wire that on the surface looks nice, but it merely copper plated aluminum... Not for me, but I didn't know if I was the last human being to know what is going on in the wire industry. Of course this type wire is coming from an out of country source...for figure that out, not hard! Just thought I would post about it so other can be award of CCA wire...