Stranded vs Solid Wire: Which One Should You Use?

Summary

The video from "History of Simple Things" explores the decision between using stranded or solid wire in electrical projects. It emphasizes that while wire may seem simple, choosing the right type is crucial for performance, durability, and installation ease. Solid wire, consisting of a single strand, is durable and good for stationary applications, offering better conductivity and cost efficiency. Stranded wire, composed of multiple strands, shines in flexibility and is ideal for environments with movement or vibration. The video provides insights into the pros and cons of each, helping viewers choose the best wire for their needs.

Highlights

• Stranded wire is flexible and works well in scenarios with frequent movement or tight spaces. 💡
• Solid wire is preferred for stationary applications due to its durability and cost-effectiveness. 🏗️
• Stranded wire can prevent fatigue and snapping in high-vibration environments, like in vehicles. 🚙
• Solid wire provides better conductivity and is ideal for long-distance runs. 🔋
• Stranded wire might require special treatments, like tin coating, for corrosion resistance in harsh environments. 🌦️

Key Takeaways

• Stranded wires offer flexibility, making them perfect for environments with movement or vibration, like cars or boats. 🚗
• Solid wires provide durability and cost efficiency, ideal for residential wiring where the wires remain stationary. 🏠
• While stranded wire may be more expensive due to its complex production, it prevents fatigue and snapping over time. 💪
• Solid wire offers better conductivity and is suitable for long-distance power transmission. 🔌
• Choosing between stranded and solid wire depends on the specific needs of your project and installation environment. 🤔

Overview

Electrical projects often lead to the decision between stranded and solid wire, a choice that impacts durability, performance, and installation ease. Solid wire, a single strand of conductive material (usually copper), offers durability and cost-effectiveness, making it suitable for stationary environments such as residential or commercial buildings.

In contrast, stranded wire, which consists of multiple twisted strands, provides flexibility, allowing it to navigate through tight and complex spaces. This flexibility makes it ideal for environments exposed to movement or vibration, such as automotive or portable electronics, where solid wire might break under stress.

Ultimately, the choice between the two depends on the project's specific requirements and environmental factors. Whether the need is for durability or flexibility, understanding the characteristics of each type allows for informed decision-making for efficient and effective wiring solutions.

Chapters

• 00:00 - 00:30: Introduction to Stranded vs Solid Wire The chapter introduces the topic of choosing between stranded and solid wire for electrical wiring. It highlights that this decision is common among homeowners, DIY enthusiasts, and electricians and suggests that the choice can significantly affect performance.
• 00:30 - 01:00: Overview of Stranded and Solid Wire The chapter provides an overview of stranded versus solid wire, explaining their characteristics, manufacturing process, common uses, and the advantages and disadvantages of each. The aim is to help viewers understand the differences between the two types of wire and determine which is more suitable for their projects.
• 01:00 - 02:00: Definition of Solid Wire Solid wire, true to its name, is composed of a single solid strand of conductive material, typically copper. This type of wire is known for its simplicity and uniformity, making it a popular choice for numerous electrical installations, particularly in residential settings.
• 02:00 - 03:00: Definition of Stranded Wire The chapter titled 'Definition of Stranded Wire' explains the structural differences between stranded and solid wire. Stranded wire consists of multiple smaller strands twisted together, forming a larger conductor, whereas solid wire is a single piece. Although they may appear similar externally when insulated, the structural differences significantly impact their performance in different conditions.
• 03:00 - 04:00: Flexibility Comparison Chapter Flexibility Comparison discusses the advantages of stranded wire in terms of flexibility. Stranded wire, composed of numerous smaller strands, is highlighted as being significantly more flexible than solid wire. This characteristic makes it ideal for applications where the wire must navigate tight corners or endure frequent movement, such as in robotics, automotive wiring, or portable electronics. The chapter contrasts this with solid wire, which weakens with repeated bending.
• 04:00 - 05:00: Durability and Strength The chapter discusses the differences between stranded wire and solid wire, focusing on their applications and characteristics. Stranded wire is praised for its flexibility, which makes it suitable for situations involving movement or complex routing through tight spaces. However, for applications where durability and strength are paramount, particularly in stationary settings, solid wire is preferred due to its robustness.
• 05:00 - 06:00: Electrical Performance The chapter titled "Electrical Performance" emphasizes the advantages of using solid wire over stranded wire. Solid wire is notably more resistant to damage and corrosion because it has fewer surfaces exposed to air and moisture compared to stranded wire, whose multiple strands can undergo oxidation over time. Additionally, solid wire maintains its shape better when bent, making it ideal for home electrical applications.
• 06:00 - 07:00: Installation and Cost The chapter discusses the differences between solid and stranded wire, particularly in the context of residential and commercial building wiring systems. Solid wire is emphasized as being more suitable for installations where the wiring needs to remain secure and in place for long periods, such as behind walls. Although both types of wire conduct electricity well, the text implies there are subtle differences in their electrical performance, which might be further explored throughout the chapter.
• 07:00 - 08:00: Environmental Considerations The chapter discusses the differences between stranded and solid wire in terms of resistance and conductivity. It explains that stranded wire has slightly more resistance due to current traveling through multiple small paths, whereas solid wire, as a continuous conductor, provides better conductivity and lower resistance overall. This difference is usually negligible for short distances or low current applications but significant in high frequency or high power scenarios.
• 08:00 - 09:00: Choosing the Right Wire The chapter discusses the considerations for choosing the right type of wire, specifically focusing on solid wire for long-distance runs or installations where voltage drop is a concern. It emphasizes the efficiency and performance benefits of using solid wire in circuits carrying power over long distances. Additionally, the chapter briefly touches on installation and cost, noting that solid wire is generally easier to handle during installation.
• 09:00 - 10:00: Conclusion The transcript discusses the differences between solid and stranded wires, focusing on their connectivity and applications. Solid wire provides better terminal connections ideal for outlets and switches due to its snug fit, ensuring safe and durable connections. However, stranded wire, while more flexible, can be challenging to handle as it is prone to fraying and may not achieve as secure a connection without proper tools and terminals.

Stranded vs Solid Wire: Which One Should You Use? Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 When it comes to electrical wiring, one of the most common decisions people face, whether you're a homeowner, a DIYer, or even an electrician, is whether to use stranded or solid wire. At a glance, it might not seem like a big deal. Wire is wire, right? But once you start digging into the details, you'll realize that choosing between stranded and solid wire can actually have a huge impact on the performance,
• 00:30 - 01:00 durability, and ease of installation for your project. So, in today's video, we're going to break down everything you need to know about stranded versus solid wire. What they are, how they're made, where they're used, and the pros and cons of each. By the end of this video, you'll have a clear understanding of which type of wire is best for your specific situation right here on History of Simple
• 01:00 - 01:30 Things. Let's start by defining what exactly these two types of wires are. Solid wire, just like the name implies, is a single solid strand of conductive material, usually copper. It's simple, it's uniform, and it's been the go-to choice for many electrical installations, especially in residential
• 01:30 - 02:00 wiring. On the other hand, stranded wire is made up of multiple smaller strands of wire twisted together to form one larger conductor. From the outside, stranded and solid wire might look similar, especially once they're covered in insulation, but structurally they're quite different. And that difference in structure plays a major role in how each type performs in various conditions. Now, one of the first things
• 02:00 - 02:30 to consider is flexibility. This is where stranded wire really shines because it's made of many smaller strands. It's much more flexible than solid wire. That makes it ideal for situations where the wire needs to be routed around tight corners or where it might be subject to frequent movement, like in robotics, automotive wiring, or portable electronics. Try bending solid wire over and over, and you'll eventually see it start to weaken and
• 02:30 - 03:00 break. But stranded wire can handle repeated movement without compromising its integrity. This flexibility also makes it easier to pull through conduit or tight spaces, especially when you're dealing with long runs or complex routing. But flexibility isn't everything. When it comes to durability and strength, especially in stationary applications, solid wire takes the
• 03:00 - 03:30 crown. It's more resistant to damage and corrosion over time simply because there are fewer surfaces exposed to air and moisture. With stranded wire, each tiny strand is exposed to the environment, and over time, oxidation can sneak in between those strands and degrade the wire more quickly. Solid wire also holds its shape better. Once you bend it into position, it tends to stay put. This makes it perfect for home electrical
• 03:30 - 04:00 wiring, especially behind walls where the wire needs to stay secure and in place for decades. That's why you'll find solid wire used in most residential and commercial building wiring systems. Next, let's talk about electrical performance. Both types of wire conduct electricity just fine, but there are some subtle differences. For example, stranded wire
• 04:00 - 04:30 has slightly more resistance than solid wire. That's because the current has to travel through multiple small paths instead of one solid core. The difference is usually negligible for short distances or low current applications, but it can become a factor in high frequency or high power scenarios. Solid wire being one continuous conductor offers slightly better conductivity and lower resistance overall. This is especially important
• 04:30 - 05:00 for long-distance runs or installations where voltage drop could be a concern. If you're wiring up a circuit that's going to carry power a long way, solid wire might be the better choice for efficiency and performance. [Music] Now, let's touch on installation and cost. Two things that often drive decisionmaking. Solid wire is generally easier to handle when you're pushing it
• 05:00 - 05:30 through walls or connecting it to outlets and switches. It fits snugly into terminal connections and tends to make better contact, which is especially important for maintaining safe, longlasting connections. On the flip side, stranded wire can be a bit trickier to work with in certain connectors. It's more prone to fraying, and if you're not using the right tools or terminals, it might not make as solid of a connection. That said, stranded
• 05:30 - 06:00 wire does have the edge when it comes to flexibility during installation in tight or curved spaces. As far as cost goes, solid wire usually wins. it's cheaper to manufacture and that savings typically gets passed on to the consumer. Stranded wire tends to be more expensive, especially in larger gauges simply because more processing is involved in
• 06:00 - 06:30 its production. So, if budget is a concern and your project allows for it, solid wire might be the more cost-effective option. Another factor that often gets overlooked is environmental conditions. In areas with a lot of vibration or movement, think vehicles, boats, aircraft, or even some outdoor installations, stranded wire is typically preferred. That's because it's less likely to fatigue and snap over time. But in static environments, like
• 06:30 - 07:00 inside walls or underground conduit, solid wire tends to hold up better. Also, stranded wire is sometimes coated with tin or other metals to help resist corrosion, especially in marine applications. That adds to the cost, but it makes stranded wire viable in harsher environments where solid wire might corrode faster. So, how do you know which one to choose? Here's a simple way to break it down. If your wiring is going to be
• 07:00 - 07:30 stationary with minimal movement or vibration and you're working on something like home electrical circuits, outlets, switches, or lighting, solid wire is probably your best bet. It's cheaper, easier to work with in those setups and provides a stable, longlasting connection. But if you're wiring up something that's going to move or vibrate, like a car, a boat, a robot arm, or even a speaker system that you're constantly plugging and
• 07:30 - 08:00 unplugging, stranded wire is what you want. It's built to move, bend, and flex without wearing out. Ultimately, the choice between stranded and solid wire comes down to your specific needs. There's no oneizefits-all answer, and that's kind of the beauty of it. Knowing the strengths and weaknesses of each type lets you tailor your wiring choices to your project, whether you're building a new home, customizing a sound system, or
• 08:00 - 08:30 wiring up a robot. So, next time you're standing in the electrical aisle, staring at reels of copper, you'll know exactly what to grab. Thank you for watching. If you have suggestions for our next video, feel free to share them in the comments below. We'll be sure to give you an acknowledgement for your contribution. Thank you for joining us on this journey through the history of
• 08:30 - 09:00 simple things. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and stay tuned for more stories woven through the smallest details. [Music]