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#18643 12/12/02 06:12 PM
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 267
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Can some of you elloborate on the differences between solid condutor and stranded wire for typical installations like lites?? emf, counter emf, right hand rule, inductive reactance, voltage drop, eddie currents, harmonic currents. What's the princaple behind solid over starnded?

#18644 12/12/02 06:19 PM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,392
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i saw a trade mag ad advocating solid.....did'nt get into detail.....

#18645 12/12/02 06:33 PM
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 806
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Stranded is easier to pull into conduit (especially long runs), more resistant to vibration. Harder to use with device terminals (need crimp lugs or pressure plate terminals) and wirenuts.

Solid is a bit cheaper for some reason. Easier to connect properly, though.

#18646 12/12/02 06:37 PM
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 267
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I agree stranded wire is much easier to pull and solid wire is better at terminations. But how the current flows is more what I was asking. Does the current runs, through the core of the conductor, so a solid wire would have less resistance as apposed to stranded. HOw does this apply to our everday applications of multiple lighte tied in, like floresent. I see specs call for solid wire applications where ther is a lot of lights installed.

[This message has been edited by Wirenuttt (edited 12-12-2002).]

#18647 12/12/02 06:45 PM
Joined: Dec 2001
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Current flows on the surface of the conductor. Standed has more "surface" area per circular mil, and therefore, has more ampacity.

Post more later,
Doc


The Watt Doctor
Altura Cogen
Channelview, TX
#18648 12/12/02 06:48 PM
Joined: Nov 2002
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Does it run on the surface? That is what I was taught 20 years ago in trade school. Now I hear that it does not, it runs through the center of a conductor.

#18649 12/12/02 08:00 PM
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 160
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The higher the frequency the more the current flows near or on the surface of the conductor(see previous posts for skin effect).Since 60 Hz is fairly low in frequency IMO I believe it would flow near the center of the conductor.
Chris

#18650 12/12/02 08:25 PM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,148
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NJwirenut,
Quote
Harder to use with device terminals (need crimp lugs or pressure plate terminals) and wirenuts.
Not true according to UL. See guide RTRT.
Quote
Terminals of the wire-binding screw, setscrew, or screw-actuated back wired clamping types are suitable for use with both solid and stranded building wires.

Don

[This message has been edited by resqcapt19 (edited 12-12-2002).]


Don(resqcapt19)
#18651 12/12/02 08:40 PM
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 201
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Alternating current flows closer to the outside of the conductor which is called the "skimming effect" or "skin effect".

[This message has been edited by ayrton (edited 12-12-2002).]

#18652 12/12/02 10:06 PM
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 440
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Quote
The higher the frequency the more the current flows near or on the surface of the conductor
I can dig it Chris. That's why at high freq's skin effect is so critical. Effectively the "cross sectional area" of the conductor is reduced when the current runs along the outside of the conductor. I, like Wnuttt, was taught that current runs on the surface. And, just recently, I was reading about the effects high freq's in a conductor.
At what freq range does skin effect become critical? I don't know? But, from the confidence that was vibrating from your reply, I'll take your word for it. I love the dynamics of this forum. As iron sharpens iron, one ECN member sharpens another.
To get back to the original post....I think that emf, counter emf, etc., etc. etc. are more a product of the load that is served rather than the conductor serving the load.
The acception would be voltage drop, which is a product of the wire (area in CM), and the current (load), along with the rest of the factors in the voltage drop formula.

Dull as spoon,
Doc


The Watt Doctor
Altura Cogen
Channelview, TX
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