solid vs stranded thhn

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jfstair

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Is there any preference between using stranded vs solid thhn below #6 in a boiler house environment where there is no movement, that is, fixed situation. Where we are, solid is cheaper and is no problem at terminations.
 
jfstair said:
Is there any preference between using stranded vs solid thhn below #6 in a boiler house environment where there is no movement, that is, fixed situation. Where we are, solid is cheaper and is no problem at terminations.
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Yes, it's exactly that, a preference. Stranded pulls easier - potentially a lot easier if it's a full pipe with lots of bends. Solid is easier to terminate on devices without clamps, and it stays neater in panels. Generally I pull stranded.
 
Not too many prefer solid larger than 10 AWG, some don't even like 10 AWG solid.

Only time I recall seeing larger than 10 AWG solid is either bare conductor or really old installations.
 
electrofelon said:
Yes, it's exactly that, a preference. Stranded pulls easier - potentially a lot easier if it's a full pipe with lots of bends. Solid is easier to terminate on devices without clamps, and it stays neater in panels. Generally I pull stranded.
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Change the last word to "solid" instead of "stranded" and this is pretty much what I was going to say, adding that solid is 10 - 15% cheaper.

Caveat, this is for #12 and #14 wire. I buy stranded for #10, though I've pulled my share of solid #10 when it's what I had available.
 
MAC702 said:
Change the last word to "solid" instead of "stranded" and this is pretty much what I was going to say, adding that solid is 10 - 15% cheaper.

Caveat, this is for #12 and #14 wire. I buy stranded for #10, though I've pulled my share of solid #10 when it's what I had available.
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Working alone most of the time, I have found I can pull 14 and 12 stranded by myself in many situations where if it were solid I would need helper. Therefore I almost always use stranded.
 
jfstair said:
Is there any preference between using stranded vs solid thhn below #6 in a boiler house environment where there is no movement, that is, fixed situation. Where we are, solid is cheaper and is no problem at terminations.
Click to expand...

I do prolly 95% 10/12/14 solid.....

But I will say that the few times I get to handle stranded, it sure feels nice.:happyyes:
 
MAC702 said:
Change the last word to "solid" instead of "stranded" and this is pretty much what I was going to say, adding that solid is 10 - 15% cheaper.

Caveat, this is for #12 and #14 wire. I buy stranded for #10, though I've pulled my share of solid #10 when it's what I had available.
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Out of interest, what proportion of the job cost is wire?
 
We do a lot of adds, changes and moves. Solid wire is very difficult to work with after a few years.
Only have stranded on the shelf.
I carry non insulated crimp connectors for terminations where its not a clamp connection.
 
kwired said:
Not too many prefer solid larger than 10 AWG, some don't even like 10 AWG solid.

Only time I recall seeing larger than 10 AWG solid is either bare conductor or really old installations.
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I worked in an old building that use to be the POCO line and office. I found #8 solid in conduit. It was a bear to pull out!
 
Besoeker said:
Out of interest, what proportion of the job cost is wire?
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Good question. I do too many different sized jobs to try to keep track.

I'm rarely pulling difficult runs, but I'm ALWAYS terminating on screws; so solid works better there.

Because of that, on the few times the stranded makes a significant difference on pulling, I usually only have solid on the truck and not wanting to buy more wire. So I just get 'er done.
 
All I have is stranded on my truck, and, if you want some real excitement just let a solid end up in your wire pull with the other stranded conductors by accident.

It'll make you reconsider your professional choices.

JAP>
 
Both. :p

I like to mix solid and stranded, because having a few solid conductors makes it easier to push the wires through the raceway.
 
I like stranded myself. I work exclusively industrial. We occasionally contract out larger jobs and some of these like to use solid. I don't
like running solid into motor peckerheads, or using as feeders to control panels. I don't trust solid to stranded wirenut connections is one
reason. Is this a legitimate concern?

In any case I always ask them to run stranded, and some of them will still run solid. They generally don't get much work after that. I figure
we are paying for the work and it should be done the way we want it provided it's code. I am interested in your opinions as far as using solid
for motor connections. I do realize that motors are wound with solid but the working ends are usually stranded.
 
Aleman said:
I like stranded myself. I work exclusively industrial. We occasionally contract out larger jobs and some of these like to use solid. I don't
like running solid into motor peckerheads, or using as feeders to control panels. I don't trust solid to stranded wirenut connections is one
reason. Is this a legitimate concern?

In any case I always ask them to run stranded, and some of them will still run solid. They generally don't get much work after that. I figure
we are paying for the work and it should be done the way we want it provided it's code. I am interested in your opinions as far as using solid
for motor connections. I do realize that motors are wound with solid but the working ends are usually stranded.
Click to expand...

I dont like or trust solid to stranded connections either with wirenuts.
 
jumper said:
Lead the stranded by a hair or two and works fine.
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Yep. Says so right in the directions.

Wirenuts are like earplugs. They don't have many steps in the directions, but if you know them, they do work better.

I do find that solid tends to tighten up in a wirenut more quickly, at least it seems like it. Less recoil in the winding, too.
 
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