Solid Or Stranded Wire For House Wiring

Each cable has its own advantages depending on your wiring needs. So, which one is more advantageous when it comes to house wiring? Well, there are several factors that you have to consider before answering the question posed above. What kind of environment do you have to deal with whenever house wiring is involved?

Do the cables need to be moved constantly? Is flexibility a necessary feature when dealing with house wiring? These are some of the main questions you ought to ask yourself when deciding whether to choose a solid wireor a stranded one for house wiring.

The main advantage of a stranded wire is its flexibility. House cables are generally installed behind walls and ceilings. Consequently, flexibility is not one of the critical requirements of house wiring. Most people use a solid copper wire for housewiring. This type of wire is more advantageous for house wiring due to several reasons including;

• It is cheaper than a stranded wire
• The small surface area of a solid cable makes a huge difference especially when you are dealing with several electrical wires in a restricted space.
• It is easier to screw a solid wire into a switch or receptacle.

Essentially, a solid wire comes in handy when dealing with house wiring. Still, you need to note that there are different types of solid cables designed for specific applications. For instance, a 14 gauge THHN solid wire is suitable for open housing structures such as a car garage.

Generally speaking, a cable’s amperage load is determined by its gauge. However, as electrical current is transmitted through a wire, a skin effect occurs. What is a skin effect? Well, the current closest to the cable’s outer layer, in simple terms, its skin, is subjected to magnetic fields. When current is subjected to magnetic fields, it tends to dissipate into the air. Between a solid copper wireand a stranded one, which one allows more amperage dissipation?

As I mentioned earlier, a solid wire has a smaller surface area compared to a stranded wire. A small surface area minimizes current dissipation. A stranded wire has air gaps between the strands and a larger surface area than a solid one. It allows more current to dissipate therefore, it is safe to say a solid wire has better amperage than a stranded wire.