Solid or Braided?

[bigaudiofanati2 10+ year member]

So the other day me uncle of a friend or mine had a little disagreement. He was Angry saying that he dose not know why they use solid wire in home wiring and not twisted or braided because it is better. I turned to him and said because a solid piece can carry more current than braided but he still disagreed. Also told him that a solid piece has the ability to dissipate heat better than braided. So 2 questions. First is solid better than braided? Also dose the same apply for car audio?

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[oldschoolboomer 10+ year member]

would be difficult to work with for sure. DC is also different from AC. The braided wired has more surface area. I believe dc current "travels on the outer surface of the wire."

 

[bigaudiofanati2 10+ year member]

I think you are right. LOL

 

[grimreper912003 5,000+ posts]

If only funky pup made wire. It could be used for home, car, underwater, space travel, the FBI and CSI would be all over that. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crap.gif.7f4dd41e3e9b23fbd170a1ee6f65cecc.gif

 

[bigaudiofanati2 10+ year member]

LOL I am sure

 

[dappa5 10+ year member]

they used to use braided in houses long long ago in a galaxy far far away

seriously though most older houses (built pre wwII) have braided wire

and any one that's done any rewiring of these homes prob saw the braided wire failed (burnt, broke , etc...) as house voltage went up so did the need for solid wire

current does travel on the out side of the strands and higher current traveling on multiple strands produces more heat than same voltage on solid

its the heat that causes failure

and i kno non of you care but I'm just trying get my posts up lol +1

 

[finkster 10+ year member]

AC electricity = high voltage low amps

DC electricity = low voltage high amps

 

[bigaudiofanati2 10+ year member]

they used to use braided in houses long long ago in a galaxy far far awayseriously though most older houses (built pre wwII) have braided wire

and any one that's done any rewiring of these homes prob saw the braided wire failed (burnt, broke , etc...) as house voltage went up so did the need for solid wire

current does travel on the out side of the strands and higher current traveling on multiple strands produces more heat than same voltage on solid

its the heat that causes failure

and i kno non of you care but I'm just trying get my posts up lol +1

Ya that is what I though just hate when people make me question myself and my info even though it is right.

Also is that a gto in your avatar?

 

[grassroots 10+ year member]

solid and stranded wire of the same size (circular mil) will carry the same amount of current.

the only big difference is flexibility.

solid wire is generally used in residential because it's easier to terminate on receptacles/light fixtures ect...

 

[dappa5 10+ year member]

Ya that is what I though just hate when people make me question myself and my info even though it is right.
Also is that a gto in your avatar?

it was

 

[AudioXtremes 10+ year member]

wrong.

solid wire carries more current in the same size as stranded.

12awg stranded is much larger than solid.

of course this is all in ac current. which is much different from dc.

 

[ngsm13 5,000+ posts]

wrong.
solid wire carries more current in the same size as stranded.

12awg stranded is much larger than solid.

of course this is all in ac current. which is much different from dc.

This.

nG

 

[ultimate157 5,000+ posts]

would be difficult to work with for sure. DC is also different from AC. The braided wired has more surface area. I believe dc current "travels on the outer surface of the wire."

That's called skin effect, and it happens with high frequency AC, not DC.

wrong.
solid wire carries more current in the same size as stranded.

12awg stranded is much larger than solid.

of course this is all in ac current. which is much different from dc.

12awg stranded has the same ampacity as that of 12awg solid. The stranded wire will be physically larger due to air gaps between individual strands.

Solid wire is used in houses because there is no real need for flexibility, its much easier to use in installations, and easy to terminate at outlets, switches, etc. I'm pretty sure cost to manufacture is much lower for solid wire conductors than stranded.

 

[McIntosh 10+ year member]

That's called skin effect, and it happens with high frequency AC, not DC.

12awg stranded has the same ampacity as that of 12awg solid. The stranded wire will be physically larger due to air gaps between individual strands.

Solid wire is used in houses because there is no real need for flexibility, its much easier to use in installations, and easy to terminate at outlets, switches, etc. I'm pretty sure cost to manufacture is much lower for solid wire conductors than stranded.

Skin effect has no affect at 60 Hz with this size wire. While the ampacity is the same (same circular mil area) solid has a VERY slightly less resistance. Nothing significant. Stranded does cost a tad more. Multiply a small amount of additional cost (and as you said a little more time to terminate each) times hundreds (or thousands) of homes and you have your answer: cost. Its not meant to move. Stranded is a MUST in a car. I actually had a car once with solid ALUMINUM wiring (at least in the tail/brake/backup/plate harness). Not a good idea. I had LOTS of splices in the trunk. BTW, aluminum is also a thing to stay away from.

 

[Einzee 10+ year member]

I actually had a car once with solid ALUMINUM wiring (at least in the tail/brake/backup/plate harness). Not a good idea. I had LOTS of splices in the trunk. BTW, aluminum is also a thing to stay away from.

Agreed. Aluminum is cheaper to buy and install into homes and cars. The MAJOR disadvantage to aluminum is the fact that it corrodes or oxidizes in the open atmosphere. Many homes were built with aluminum wiring and had major problems when the conductor oxidized (weathered away). The connections at the devices would arc and ultimately fail.... rendering the device useless and in some cases would actually overheat and cause fire.