Copper-clad steel earthing products: rods, wire, tape, strand

One factory, the full earthing conductor range. Browse our complete product catalog below – continuous-cast and electroplated processes, round wire, flat tape, stranded conductor and ground rods.

Detailed specifications

One card per product: continuous-cast on the left (our main range, 0.6 / 0.8 / 1.0 mm, annealed), electroplated on the right (on request, 0.25 mm, hard-drawn). Strand is continuous-cast only.

Recommended · continuous-cast

Continuous-cast round wire

Ø 8–18 mm, copper 0.6 / 0.8 / 1.0 mm, fully annealed (≥ 300 N/mm²). The horizontal grid conductor that replaces copper: Ø 12–14 in PV, telecom, industrial and rail sites; Ø 14–16 in distribution and 220 kV substations.

Specification

CC continuous-cast · 0.6 / 0.8 / 1.0 mmAnnealed soft temper

The steel core passes through molten copper and the copper crystallises onto it – a metallurgical bond with no interface gap – then the whole coil is annealed to the soft temper that DL/T 1312-2023 clause 4.2 recommends for horizontal conductor, so it bends on site. This is the product for medium- and high-corrosivity soil.

Sizes	Ø 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 mm; 100 m per reel standard, 200–1000 m on request
Copper layer	Nominal 0.60 / 0.80 / 1.00 mm
Tensile strength	≥ 300 N/mm² (annealed horizontal-electrode class)
Bending	90°, 3 bends – no cracks, fissures or pits in the copper
Copper–steel bond	45° cone hammer test: no separation at the interface
Conductivity	20–40 % IACS by size and copper – calculated values by size in the table below
Surface	Fine, uniform and smooth; no pinholes, pits, blisters, peeling, cracks or burns; no bare steel, loose copper or black spots
Type-tested sizes	Ø 12 / 0.6, Ø 14 / 0.8, Ø 16 / 0.6, Ø 18 / 0.8 mm; others on request
Model code	CCS CC 25-0.8-Φ16 (process – conductivity grade – copper – size)

Requirements and test methods per DL/T 1312-2023; routine test on every lot (≤ 5000 m), copper thickness checked on every reel. Report numbers on the Testing & quality page.

On request · electroplated

Electroplated round wire

Ø 8–18 mm, copper 0.25 mm, hard-drawn. For low-corrosivity soil, equipotential bonding and projects specified at 0.25 mm. Supplied, not recommended for horizontal grids in corrosive soil.

Specification

EP electroplated · 0.25 mmHard-drawn: cannot be annealed

Electroplated copper on a hard-drawn steel core. A plated layer cannot be annealed – the heat would damage the bond – so the product is supplied hard. Supplied on request; for horizontal conductor in medium- or high-corrosivity soil we recommend the continuous-cast range (our position).

Sizes	Ø 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 mm; 100 m per reel standard
Copper layer	Nominal 0.25 mm
Tensile strength	≥ 300 N/mm² (hard-drawn)
Bending	90°, 3 bends – no cracks, fissures or pits in the copper
Copper–steel bond	45° cone hammer test: no separation at the interface
Conductivity	15–20 % IACS by size
Surface	Fine, uniform and smooth; no pinholes, pits, blisters, peeling, cracks or burns; no bare steel, loose copper or black spots
Type-tested sizes	Ø 12 / 0.25 and Ø 16 / 0.25 mm; others on request
Model code	CCS EP 15-0.25-Φ12

Requirements and test methods per DL/T 1312-2023; routine test on every lot (≤ 5000 m), copper thickness checked on every reel. Report numbers on the Testing & quality page.

Supply position: why we supply 0.25 mm plated wire but do not recommend it →

Type-test report: Ø 12 / 0.6 mm continuous-cast wire, CNAS laboratory, full DL/T 1312-2023 programme passed (English PDF) ↓ · measured data

Recommended · continuous-cast

Continuous-cast flat tape

12 × 6 to 50 × 5 mm, copper 0.6 / 0.8 / 1.0 mm, annealed. For cross-sections above about 200 mm² where round wire becomes hard to lay.

Specification

CC continuous-cast · 0.6 / 0.8 / 1.0 mmAnnealed soft temper

Same process and temper as the round wire. Note that at equal copper content a tape keeps a thinner layer than round wire (round vs flat).

Sizes	12 × 6 to 50 × 5 mm (e.g. 30 × 4, 40 × 4, 50 × 5); reels or straight lengths
Copper layer	Nominal 0.60 / 0.80 / 1.00 mm
Tensile strength	≥ 300 N/mm² (annealed horizontal-electrode class)
Bending	90°, 3 bends – no cracks, fissures or pits in the copper
Copper–steel bond	45° cone hammer test: no separation at the interface
Conductivity	15–40 % IACS by section and copper
Surface	Fine, uniform and smooth; no pinholes, pits, blisters, peeling, cracks or burns; no bare steel, loose copper or black spots
Type-tested sizes	Type-tested on request for the size specified in a project
Model code	CCS CC 20-0.6-50×5

Requirements and test methods per DL/T 1312-2023; routine test on every lot (≤ 5000 m), copper thickness checked on every reel. Report numbers on the Testing & quality page.

On request · electroplated

Electroplated flat tape

12 × 6 to 50 × 5 mm, copper 0.25 mm, hard-drawn. For undemanding sites and 0.25 mm specifications. Supplied, not recommended.

Specification

EP electroplated · 0.25 mmHard-drawn: cannot be annealed

Electroplated copper on a hard-drawn steel core. A plated layer cannot be annealed – the heat would damage the bond – so the product is supplied hard. Supplied on request; for horizontal conductor in medium- or high-corrosivity soil we recommend the continuous-cast range (our position).

Sizes	12 × 6 to 50 × 5 mm; reels or straight lengths
Copper layer	Nominal 0.25 mm
Tensile strength	≥ 300 N/mm² (hard-drawn)
Bending	90°, 3 bends – no cracks, fissures or pits in the copper
Copper–steel bond	45° cone hammer test: no separation at the interface
Conductivity	15–20 % IACS by section
Surface	Fine, uniform and smooth; no pinholes, pits, blisters, peeling, cracks or burns; no bare steel, loose copper or black spots
Type-tested sizes	Type-tested on request for the size specified in a project
Model code	CCS EP 15-0.25-30×4

Requirements and test methods per DL/T 1312-2023; routine test on every lot (≤ 5000 m), copper thickness checked on every reel. Report numbers on the Testing & quality page.

Supply position: why we supply plated tape but do not recommend it →

Continuous-cast only

Copper-clad steel stranded conductor

70–240 mm², 30 % or 40 % IACS. Stranding is the harshest real-world test of the copper–steel bond – every strand is twisted and bent repeatedly.

Specification

CC continuous-cast onlyNo electroplated strand

Continuous-cast only. A plated layer does not have the bond to survive stranding – every wire is twisted and bent repeatedly – so we do not make electroplated strand. Specified by the per-wire minimum copper, which cannot be gauged after stranding (solid vs strand).

Sizes	70, 95, 120, 150, 185, 240 mm²; on reels
Copper layer	Nominal per wire, 0.60 / 0.80 mm
Tensile strength	≥ 300 N/mm² per wire (bonding-conductor class)
Bending	90°, 3 bends on the single wire – no cracks in the copper
Copper–steel bond	Single wire twisted to fracture per GB/T 239: no cracks, flaking or holes in the copper
Conductivity	Grade 30 or 40 % IACS (resistivity at 20 °C ≤ 5.75 / 4.31 × 10⁻⁸ Ω·m)
Surface	Fine, uniform and smooth; no pinholes, pits, blisters, peeling, cracks or burns; no bare steel, loose copper or black spots
Use	Earthing leads and flexible bonding; the buried electrode is better served by solid conductor
Test report	Factory test report per lot; type test on request for a project

Requirements and test methods per DL/T 1312-2023 (copper thickness GB/T 4956 / 6462, tensile GB/T 228.1, resistivity GB/T 3048); routine test on every lot (≤ 5000 m), copper thickness checked on every reel. Report numbers on the Testing & quality page.

Supply position: why we do not recommend strand for buried electrodes →

Recommended · continuous-cast

Continuous-cast ground rods

Ø 12–25 mm × 1.5 m, copper 0.6 / 0.8 mm, hard-drawn for driving; steel core ≥ 550 N/mm². The vertical electrode for medium- and high-corrosivity soil, from the same material system as the horizontal conductor.

Specification

CC continuous-cast · 0.6 / 0.8 mmHard-drawn, not annealed

A rod has to be driven, so it is supplied hard-drawn. Pointed, threaded or plain for coupling; for the threaded, coupled version see the deep-driving kit below.

Sizes	Ø 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 25 mm × 1.5 m standard (other lengths to order)
Copper layer	Nominal 0.60 / 0.80 mm
Tensile strength	≥ 550 N/mm² (vertical-electrode class)
Bending	30° at 40 diameters from the clamp, 20 bends – no cracks, fissures or pits in the copper
Copper–steel bond	One end cut to a 45° cone and the copper hammered off: no separation at the interface
Conductivity	15–20 % IACS by size and copper
Surface	Fine, uniform and smooth; no pinholes, pits, blisters, peeling, cracks or burns; no bare steel, loose copper or black spots
Type-tested sizes	Ø 20 / 0.8 and Ø 25 / 0.8 mm, full DL/T 1312-2023 programme; other sizes on request
Model code	CCS CC 20-0.8-Φ20

Requirements and test methods per DL/T 1312-2023; routine test on every lot (≤ 5000 m), copper thickness checked on every reel. Report numbers on the Testing & quality page.

On request · electroplated

Electroplated ground rods

Ø 12–25 mm × 1.5 m, copper 0.25 mm, hard-drawn; steel core ≥ 550 N/mm². The common international thin-layer rod specification (UL 467 / IEC 62561-2 class) for low-corrosivity soil and telecom sites – electroplating's home ground.

Specification

EP electroplated · 0.25 mmHard-drawn

Electroplated copper on a hard-drawn steel core; the rod is driven, so the hard temper is what is wanted here. Pointed, threaded or plain for coupling.

Sizes	Ø 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 25 mm × 1.5 m standard (other lengths to order)
Copper layer	Nominal 0.25 mm (≥ 0.254 mm at any point where UL 467 is specified)
Tensile strength	≥ 550 N/mm² (vertical-electrode class)
Bending	30° at 40 diameters from the clamp, 20 bends – no cracks, fissures or pits in the copper
Copper–steel bond	One end cut to a 45° cone and the copper hammered off: no separation at the interface
Conductivity	15 % IACS
Surface	Fine, uniform and smooth; no pinholes, pits, blisters, peeling, cracks or burns; no bare steel, loose copper or black spots
Type-tested sizes	Type-tested on request for the size specified in a project
Model code	CCS EP 15-0.25-Φ16

Requirements and test methods per DL/T 1312-2023; routine test on every lot (≤ 5000 m), copper thickness checked on every reel. Report numbers on the Testing & quality page.

Kits, jointing and supply

Extensible deep-driving ground rods

The same copper-bonded rod, threaded at both ends and coupled section by section to reach stable, moist, low-resistivity soil – deep electrodes where the surface layer is dry, rocky or high in resistivity. Supplied as a kit: rods, brass couplers, hardened driving tip and driving head.

Specification

EP electroplated · 0.25 mmCC continuous-cast · 0.6 / 0.8 mmThreaded both ends

Rods are driven one after another: the driving head takes the hammer, the brass coupler joins the next section without exposing bare steel, the steel tip opens the way. Sections can be coupled to the depth the soil requires, and the copper layer and steel core are the same as the standard rod.

Rod	Ø 14–25 mm × 1.5 m (other lengths to order), rolled thread at both ends; copper and core as the standard rod
Coupler	Brass (copper alloy) threaded coupler, full-section; the rod-to-rod joint stays inside the coupler and keeps its copper cover
Driving tip	Hardened steel, pointed, threaded onto the first section
Driving head	Steel driving head / stud screwed onto the top section to protect the thread under the hammer; removed on reaching depth
Copper layer	Nominal (0.25 / 0.60 / 0.80 mm)
Tensile strength	≥ 550 N/mm² (vertical-electrode class)
Bending	30° at 40 diameters from the clamp, 20 bends – no cracks, fissures or pits in the copper
Copper–steel bond	One end cut to a 45° cone and the copper hammered off: no separation at the interface
Conductivity	15–40 % IACS by size and copper
Connection to the grid	Exothermic weld or clamp at the top section; welding moulds supplied to match

Rod requirements and test methods per DL/T 1312-2023; couplers, tips and heads supplied as a matched set. Report numbers on the Testing & quality page.

Exothermic welding

Graphite moulds, weld powder and accessories for copper-to-CCS and CCS-to-CCS joints. Joint quality assessed to DL/T 1342-2014; smooth, full-coverage welds.

Specification

Moulds, powder, accessoriesCopper–CCS and CCS–CCS joints

Graphite moulds by joint type (straight, tee, cross, rod-to-conductor, conductor-to-steel) and weld powder in single-shot charges matched to the mould and conductor size. Welding procedure and attendance at the first joints are part of the engineering service.

Joint acceptance	Full enclosure of the parent conductor; smooth surface, no porosity or cracks
Electrical	DC resistance of the joint ≤ 1.1 × an equal length of parent conductor
Mechanical	Tensile strength of the joint ≥ parent conductor
Where hot work is restricted	IEEE 837-qualified compression connectors (exothermic welding guide)

Acceptance per DL/T 1342-2014; see the joints guide.

Formats and packing

Coils, straight lengths or cut-to-order. ISO 9001 factory; full batch traceability from electrolytic copper and steel rod to finished coil.

Technical data – continuous-cast round wire (calculated)

Conductivity varies with diameter and copper thickness: at 0.8 mm copper, Ø8 is about 43% IACS and Ø16 about 28%. The table is calculated by the bimetallic-conductor method of IEEE Std 80-2013 (clause 11.3), with the Table 1 material constants: annealed copper 1.72 μΩ·cm (100% IACS) and steel 1020 15.90 μΩ·cm (10.8% IACS); densities 8.96 and 7.85 g/cm³ for preliminary selection and submittal estimates; the DL/T 1312 grade is the highest of the five classes not exceeding the unrounded value; measured values are given in the factory test report for each lot. Sizes already type-tested to DL/T 1312: Ø 12 / 0.25, Ø 12 / 0.6, Ø 14 / 0.8, Ø 16 / 0.25, Ø 16 / 0.6, Ø 18 / 0.8 (horizontal) and Ø 20 / 0.8, Ø 25 / 0.8 (rods); all other sizes, including Ø 16 / 0.8 and every 1.0 mm size, are calculated values and are type-tested on request for a project (see Test evidence). The same data with materials, tests, packing and ordering terms: product data sheet (PDF).

The technical requirements (copper measuring points, tensile, bending, bond, conductivity grades, high-current and electrical-corrosion limits) and the type-test programme are on the Test evidence page. Copper for comparison (annealed): 50 mm² 0.345 Ω/km, 0.45 kg/m; 70 mm² 0.246 Ω/km, 0.62 kg/m; 95 mm² 0.181 Ω/km, 0.85 kg/m; 120 mm² 0.144 Ω/km, 1.07 kg/m. Data for 0.25 mm sizes, flat tape, strand and rods on request.

Supply, capacity and lead time

Order to cargo available = 2 weeks production + about 1 week factory-to-Shanghai, booking and export clearance + sea transit + about 1 week destination clearance. Transit times are typical ranges; the sailing schedule at booking governs.

Ordering terms

Have a project in mind?

Send the conductor size, length, soil and fault current – two sizing options and the copper saving come back within 24–48 hours, free.