CCA vs OFC

[duanebro 10+ year member]

It is all about resistance of the wire. Copper has less resistance, and so less voltage drop and power loss. Bigger wire does also. So OFC is better than CCA. Better than everything else is running high voltage, but that will not happen anytime soon. So use the most copper you can if you are going to compete. If you are building a daily system the question becomes more grey. I would use CCA for budget systems. Copper for anyone running higher power and can afford it.

 

[jockhater2 10+ year member]

its just how i was taught

So if I do 3 runs of power. I should do 3 runs of ground?

And keep the 1 to engine block and 1 to the frame?

 

---------- Post added at 09:56 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:55 PM ----------

 

It is all about resistance of the wire. Copper has less resistance, and so less voltage drop and power loss. Bigger wire does also. So OFC is better than CCA. Better than everything else is running high voltage, but that will not happen anytime soon. So use the most copper you can if you are going to compete. If you are building a daily system the question becomes more grey. I would use CCA for budget systems. Copper for anyone running higher power and can afford it.

Thats what I was thinking. For us Daily drivers. Is the OFC worth it?

 

[mylows10 5,000+ posts]

yes it is worth it

 

[DaveVT 10+ year member]

is it necessary to fuse the positive to alt line when you do the big 3?

 

[jockhater2 10+ year member]

is it necessary to fuse the positive to alt line when you do the big 3?

I havent heard of people doing it

 

[mylows10 5,000+ posts]

not really,but some people do

 

[jockhater2 10+ year member]

not really,but some people do

so there is obviously no question that OFC is better than CCA. But with 3 runs of CCA that will be more than enough for 5k.

 

[DaveVT 10+ year member]

so there is obviously no question that OFC is better than CCA. But with 3 runs of CCA that will be more than enough for 5k.

It would be enough but fact is the resistance is lower with OFC. If you can afford it then use it. I bought my kits from knu for like 80 bucks. all 0 gauge OFC.

 

[jockhater2 10+ year member]

I have 1 run of OFC. I am assuming that Stingers HPM is. Since it was $4-5 a foot I believe. So the 25ft I just bought was CCA XS power. I will make sure the 3rd run is OFC again.

The grounds is where it will get costly. Mylows suggest 3 runs of ground. FUHHHHHHHHHH. I didn't think wire would be such an expensive part of the build.

 

[pro-rabbit 5,000+ posts]

90% of mobile audio enthusiasts will not notice any difference in their system when CCA or OFC is used/switch with each other.

 

[itsblown 10+ year member]

90% of mobile audio enthusiasts will not notice any difference in their system when CCA or OFC is used/switch with each other.

was this study done by an independent test group? lol just messing with you

have been debating ofc vs cca for the new system im building it.

The way i look at.. ill spend 30 extra dollars or so on a kit to make it breath a little easier

 

[Kangaroux 5,000+ posts]

I have 1 run of OFC. I am assuming that Stingers HPM is. Since it was $4-5 a foot I believe. So the 25ft I just bought was CCA XS power. I will make sure the 3rd run is OFC again.
The grounds is where it will get costly. Mylows suggest 3 runs of ground. FUHHHHHHHHHH. I didn't think wire would be such an expensive part of the build.

Unless you're doing any kind of competing, you can ground to the chassis just fine, assuming your big 3 is good.

 

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

I use cca because I am cheap. I don't run gazlillion watt setups though where every tenth matters. Sometimes I run OFC on the big 3 as it's only a couple dollars more due to short runs.

 

[jockhater2 10+ year member]

What are some good brands that are affordable?

The XS power wire wasn't bad.

I see that KNU is $1 less a foot.

I heard that shock competition cable is really good stuff. But I don't know who makes it. ANd I heard that monster cable p400 is good.

 

[jockhater2 10+ year member]

Unless you're doing any kind of competing, you can ground to the chassis just fine, assuming your big 3 is good.

I am going to go ahead and do the 3 runs of ground.

This is the last time I am messing with the car.