Solid wire being used for solar systems

[JuanC]

I have only seen stranded wire being used to wire up solar systems (residential) but just today I was thinking how come they don’t use solid wire? Is it a code violation? Is stranded wire better to use for DC voltage? I’d like to get some thoughts on this mainly because my knowledge on solar systems is limited.

 

[gadfly56]

I have only seen stranded wire being used to wire up solar systems (residential) but just today I was thinking how come they don’t use solid wire? Is it a code violation? Is stranded wire better to use for DC voltage? I’d like to get some thoughts on this mainly because my knowledge on solar systems is limited.

Have you ever wrangled 10 AWG or 6 AWG solid? You'd only make that mistake once.

 

[electrofelon]

Have you ever wrangled 10 AWG or 6 AWG solid? You'd only make that mistake once.

Even 12 AWG solid can be a pain and I can't believe people do it. Say a 3/4 pipe with 2-3 full boats. . Uggg, why

 

[gadfly56]

Even 12 AWG solid can be a pain and I can't believe people do it. Say a 3/4 pipe with 2-3 full boats. . Uggg, why

Exactly. I get the royal stink-eye from my techs if I tell them they have to use 12-2 to wire up the notification appliances.

 

[Birken Vogt]

Solid wire is for wrapping screw terminals on devices so you don't have to crimp on a fork. Even then I don't like it.

Stranded wire is for everything else.

 

[jaggedben]

I have only seen stranded wire being used to wire up solar systems (residential) but just today I was thinking how come they don’t use solid wire? Is it a code violation? Is stranded wire better to use for DC voltage? I’d like to get some thoughts on this mainly because my knowledge on solar systems is limited.

Are you asking about DC wiring on array racking? Or in conduit? In conduit it's a code violation for 8awg and larger.

 

[ggunn]

Is stranded wire better to use for DC voltage?

No.

 

[JuanC]

Are you asking about DC wiring on array racking? Or in conduit? In conduit it's a code violation for 8awg and larger.

So it’s a code violation to have solid wire running from the arrays to the inverters? Can you find me where it shows that?

 

[electrofelon]

So it’s a code violation to have solid wire running from the arrays to the inverters? Can you find me where it shows that?

310.3(C)

 

[ggunn]

310.3(C)

For #8 and larger, that is. You could run #10 solid for DC from the array if you can find it with the proper insulation (UV resistant PV wire, and 1kV or better for 1000VDC systems), but why would you want to?