Aluminium cat5 cable?

Question

I just purchased some cheap cat5 cable off ebay only to find that it isn't copper or copper clad aluminium (CCA). I cannot solder it. At first glance I thought is was just tinned multi-strand copper, but it definitely isn't.

It appears to be just plain aluminium or something that looks like aluminium. It is multi-stranded, not single core. It feels like copper in terms of springyness and bendability but looks just like aluminium even under a microscope when scratched with a blade.

The packaging carries N100MK which could be this,

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except that mine isn't copper clad.

Has anyone seen anything else like this?

Mike

atec77 · Accepted Answer

Itspringyness  it's crap , if it does meet Australian standards which I doubt it would be bottom of the line product , now why do you want to solder it as the crimps works and the cable will work for a while-- X-No-Archive: Yes

Phil Allison · Answer

"Mike B" ** So the dopey Chinks forgot to add the copper plating ......Hardly matters with screw terminal and crimp connectors being the norm everywhere in data and telecoms.Who the heck  SOLDERS  Cat 5 ??BTW:Bloody amazing what you can make out of recycled Budweiser and Coke cans ........  Phil

Ross Herbert · Answer

:I just purchased some cheap cat5 cable off ebay only to find that it isn't :copper or copper clad aluminium (CCA). :I cannot solder it. :At first glance I thought is was just tinned multi-strand copper, but it :definitely isn't. : :It appears to be just plain aluminium or something that looks like aluminium. It :is multi-stranded, not single core. It feels like copper in terms of springyness :and bendability but looks just like aluminium even under a microscope when :scratched with a blade. : :The packaging carries N100MK which could be this, :

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:except that mine isn't copper clad. : :Has anyone seen anything else like this? : : : :Mike

I haven't, but it is not approved for use in Australia unless it has the A-tick symbol on the cable or the box containing the cable.

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Aluminium cat5 cable?

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