bare copper weld wire

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Telaid

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Is this normal nomenclature for wire? Is it a coax term or for all wire. Would a spec for 4/0 awg bcw be ok?
 
Copperweld is a steel wire with a copper coating, or sometimes a copper clad messenger with copper stranding. I don't see sizes greater than 0 in a google search.

What application do you have for it. I haven't seen it in 25 years.

Jim T
 
the application is a cellular site ground system. Im reviewing a design that calls out a connection from the water main to the roof located cell building. What was specified was 2 #4/0 from the water main to the ground strap. It actually calls out 2 #4/0 awg bcw. I havent seen it before either.
 
In larger sizes, I've seen copperweld listed as 19 #5 or something like that, but not in the awg sizes when larger than 0. It is apparently used for grounding, particularly in telecommunications. I am familiar with it as a primary conductor in old utility lines.

Jim T
 
Telaid said:
the application is a cellular site ground system. Im reviewing a design that calls out a connection from the water main to the roof located cell building. What was specified was 2 #4/0 from the water main to the ground strap. It actually calls out 2 #4/0 awg bcw. I havent seen it before either.
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When I've seen "bcw" on spec's, it has always meant simply "bare copper wire".
 
Telaid said:
the application is a cellular site ground system. Im reviewing a design that calls out a connection from the water main to the roof located cell building. What was specified was 2 #4/0 from the water main to the ground strap. It actually calls out 2 #4/0 awg bcw. I havent seen it before either.
Click to expand...
The last cellulart site we did spec'ed #2 tinned copper. The BCW is most likely Bare Copper Wire, as S$ said. Copperweld would be used where strength and skin effect are paramount. Standard RG-6 also uses copperweld as the center conductor for the above reasons.
 
Thanks all, turns out thats what it meant, " Bare Copper Wire" Had them add a an abbrev. to the front page.
 
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