ECN Electrical Forum - Discussion Forums for Electricians, Inspectors and Related Professionals
ECN Shout Chat
ShoutChat
Recent Posts
UL 508A SPACING
by ale348 - 03/29/24 01:09 AM
Increasing demand factors in residential
by tortuga - 03/28/24 05:57 PM
Portable generator question
by Steve Miller - 03/19/24 08:50 PM
Do we need grounding?
by NORCAL - 03/19/24 05:11 PM
240V only in a home and NEC?
by dsk - 03/19/24 06:33 AM
New in the Gallery:
This is a new one
This is a new one
by timmp, September 24
Few pics I found
Few pics I found
by timmp, August 15
Who's Online Now
1 members (ale348), 302 guests, and 14 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
#9445 04/30/02 10:31 AM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1
B
butch Offline OP
Junior Member
I need to settle this debate once and for all. I have friends who say that a "thicker size braided wire" will carry more volts. The others say the same size "solid wire" will carry more voltage but harder to manage. I believe that the "solid wire" (same size) will carry more because there is less resistance than a stranded wire because electrons travel the path of least resistance. Can some one tell us who is right and why?

Many thanks

#9446 04/30/02 10:46 AM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,236
Likes: 1
Member
The ability to handle voltage is dependant upon the dielectric strength of the insulation, or the distance from other conductors and grounded objects (like overhead high voltage lines which are only insulated by the air).

Stranded and Solid wire, as far as I know will both carry the same current assuming they are the same size in circular mils, and made of the same material. Once again, the makeup of the insulation also comes into play here, the ampacity tables in the NEC point to this.

Clear as mud?


-Virgil
Residential/Commercial Inspector
5 Star Inspections
Member IAEI
#9447 04/30/02 10:54 AM
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 717
G
Member
OK, I'll ring in on this one.

The amount of voltage a conductor will carry is a function of its insulation, not cma.
Braided, and stranded conductors are used for 2 reasons in AC.

1. Ever try to pull anything larger than #8 in solid wire? Let's just say it don't corner too good....no "Wider is Better" here [Linked Image]
Linemen use solid wire all the time in larger sizes, if you can form it outside the conduit, no problem, just a little more difficult to work with.

2. Never forget that AC has a property that is completely different from DC. Skin effect. Which means that current tends to travel on the outside of conductors and ignores the inside (on 400 hz, I've installed tubing cause the inside ain't being used anyway), so it is more efficient to 'break up' that pattern by using many strands and allowing it to 'skin' in multiple layers. The higher the current, the more efficient to use stranded or braided conductor.

That do it? [Linked Image]

#9448 04/30/02 01:20 PM
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 163
D
Member
Take a look at Table 8 - Conductor Properties - they list resistance on solid & stranded conductors.....every one listed shows lower resistance on solid conductors. (comparison is only avail for wire sizes 8 - 18).

#9449 04/30/02 10:34 PM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,236
Likes: 1
Member
I stand corrected (as usual...).

[Linked Image]


-Virgil
Residential/Commercial Inspector
5 Star Inspections
Member IAEI

Link Copied to Clipboard
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5