Solid vs. Stranded

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jeff43222

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I generally use solid bare copper for my GECs, but I've been running into situations lately where I'm seeing insulated stranded copper being used instead. 250.62 seems pretty clear that either kind of wire is permissible. Anyone care to list their preference and why they like it?
 
Limit of 10AWG solid and smaller in a raceway, it you want to protect a GEC in PVC or similar it has to be stranded. Smallest GEC allowed is 8 AWG
Hard to find listed compression splices for solid wire.
 
Does 310.3 actually apply to a GEC sleeved in conduit for protection?

The only two acorn style clamps listed for rebar can be used only with stranded conductors.
 
I like the stranded better because my compression fittings seem to hold better, and sometimes when stripping (can't see so well anymore) if i get it in the wrong slot of my strippers I'll snap it off, the stranded is more forgiving. And most of the wiring I do is in damp or wet conditions, in conduit.
 
I was thinking specifically of the GEC I use to ground the service to the water pipe and the one I use to connect to the ground rod. I typically use NM staples and tack the solid copper on or across joists in unfinished basements. I was just thinking that using stranded wire would be a lot easier to manipulate than the solid stuff. Is there a price difference?
 
bphgravity said:
Does 310.3 actually apply to a GEC sleeved in conduit for protection?

The only two acorn style clamps listed for rebar can be used only with stranded conductors.
Click to expand...

Personally I do not believe 310.3 applies to "Protection" as the open ends of the conduit is simply for protection and is not part of a closed raceway system. The requirement for it to be stranded in pipe in THIS case would not apply.

Also I wanted to address the use of stranded and how we use it.....while we use solid to the GE's we happen to Bond the panels with stranded that is insulated to reduce any possibly chance of damage to it or carry off from it from panel to panel since we do alot of 400 A service.

I guess to everyone their own.....but nothing prohibits the use of the solid or stranded as the GEC.
 
I've wondered why anyone would use solid wire for the GEC. Since I've only used stranded I don't know really how bad the solid is to work with.


bphgravity said:
The only two acorn style clamps listed for rebar can be used only with stranded conductors.
Click to expand...

Would you mind saying what these are? I assume the one I have used is one of them, but had a hard time finding out for sure.
 
Here is a list I put together of nearly every ground clamp I could locate that are listed for Rebar. You will have to check with the specific manufacturer for installation detail such as conductor sizes, rebar sizes, ect..

GROUND CLAMPS LISTED FOR USE ON REBAR



There are currently only (2) ?acorn? style clamps listed for use with REBAR:

Erico (Eritech): Model # CP58 - #4 rebar

ILSCO: Models # GRC-38, GRC-48, GRC-68 - #3, 4, and 5 rebar


Other UL listed Clamps for use with REBAR:


Erico (Eritech): Model # EK 16 / EK 17

ILSCO : Model # BGC-2T-DB, BGC-2P-DB, BGC-2PS-DB, BGC-4/0P-DB, BGC-4/0S-DB

Galvan: Model # JRD

Bridgeport: Model # RB-16, RB-17

Regal Fittings: Model # 8181

Consolidated Manufacturing International: Model # JRD

Greaves Corp: Model # J29-DB, J30-DB, J31-DB

NSI Polaris: Model # G140DB / GLC140DB

Sigma Electric: Model # C-11N, C-11BN, C-11, C-11D, C-11DN, RBC-1D

Halex Company: Model # C-11

Thermocraft: Model # JRD, JRD+

Thomas and Betts: Model # CC1C-45R, CC2C- 45R, CC10C-56R, CC20C-56R, CC40C-56R
 
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