Sometimes wires are stranded–multiple small cores bundled together. This results in greater potential for electricity flow (per amount of copper), and results in greater flexibility of the wire. Most of the cords you deal with on a daily basis are made from stranded copper cable.
But there are cases where solid core is important for other reasons. A solid core wire is stiffer and more difficult to bend, and will typically retain whatever shape it is bent into. But pump electricity through it for decades and it’ll last a lot longer and be more reliable than its stranded counterpart. This is why your house’s wiring typically uses solid core copper–doesn’t move once installed, and reliability is kinda important when it’s inside your walls.
As the commenter below points out, I didn’t know what I was talking about. See below.
Both TO and you seem to have a sort of semi-understanding of things but you feel like you really know it, so you spread this stuff online. I hate it.
Stranded or solid is irrelevant for DC or 50/60 Hz electricity. The same cross section can carry the same current with the same voltage drop. The skin effect only starts to get relevant at much higher frequencies.
Shit, you’re right. Not sure if I was taught wrong or if I’m remembering wrong, but it seems there’s no difference at lower frequencies (my day job involves exclusively higher-frequency stuff, I thought it was universal).
It depends!Sometimes wires are stranded–multiple small cores bundled together. This results in greater potential for electricity flow (per amount of copper), and results in greater flexibility of the wire. Most of the cords you deal with on a daily basis are made from stranded copper cable.But there are cases where solid core is important for other reasons. A solid core wire is stiffer and more difficult to bend, and will typically retain whatever shape it is bent into. But pump electricity through it for decades and it’ll last a lot longer and be more reliable than its stranded counterpart. This is why your house’s wiring typically uses solid core copper–doesn’t move once installed, and reliability is kinda important when it’s inside your walls.As the commenter below points out, I didn’t know what I was talking about. See below.
Both TO and you seem to have a sort of semi-understanding of things but you feel like you really know it, so you spread this stuff online. I hate it.
Stranded or solid is irrelevant for DC or 50/60 Hz electricity. The same cross section can carry the same current with the same voltage drop. The skin effect only starts to get relevant at much higher frequencies.
Shit, you’re right. Not sure if I was taught wrong or if I’m remembering wrong, but it seems there’s no difference at lower frequencies (my day job involves exclusively higher-frequency stuff, I thought it was universal).
Thanks for correcting me on that.
Mate, respect for this reaction.