Stranded Wire

[Jimmy7]

When you need to extend something like a #12 stranded wire is it better to extend it with #12 stranded or solid, or does it matter. Obviously both work, but technically speaking is one better than the other?

 

[roger]

Doesn't matter

 

[retirede]

One may be preferable, depending on the characteristics of its ultimate termination point and/or if flexibility is required.

 

[infinity]

When you need to extend something like a #12 stranded wire is it better to extend it with #12 stranded or solid, or does it matter. Obviously both work, but technically speaking is one better than the other?

As stated it doesn't matter but if it's already stranded why use solid?

 

[Jimmy7]

As stated it doesn't matter but if it's already stranded why use solid?

I was just curious, if it was a situation where that’s all you had in the truck

 

[infinity]

I was just curious, if it was a situation where that’s all you had in the truck

Yes either would work so it comes down to preference for the task at hand, like a device with only binding terminals, or as you've said what you had on the truck.

 

[garbo]

In existing metallic conduits that had wires in it we liked to use stranded wire especially if it was a long run or had over 180 degrees in bends. We had nylon insulated fish tapes but was faster to use the existing #12 ground wire as a pull.line pulled in a stranded new #12 ground wire. Always tied in the replacement ground wire immediately. Union electrical contractors that I came behind always used solid #12 because it was cheaper.

 

[Dsg319]

I was just curious, if it was a situation where that’s all you had in the truck

Shoot I’ve insulated coat hangers and made wire extensions.

I’m jk

 

[Joethemechanic]

Shoot I’ve insulated coat hangers and made wire extensions.

Fence wire on coke bottles for insulators. Worked fine for the bootleg miners during the depression

 

[Birken Vogt]

Solid wire is for homeowner grade outlets where you wrap the screw heads.

Stranded for everything else.

 

[ramsy]

Solid wire is for homeowner grade outlets where you wrap the screw heads.

Stranded for everything else.

More accurately stated low-ball bids use cheapest labor & material possible, soon to be #16 Solid Romex, back stabbed into devices

 

[ramsy]

When you need to extend ..stranded wire is ..solid or stranded ..better?

In the case of crimped terminals it does matter.

 

[herding_cats]

It comes down to the end termination. Stranded might be better in some cases, where solid is better on things like duplex outlets. The ampacity ratings do not change between solid and stranded. But one might argue why that is? Shouldn't solid hold more ampacity than stranded? In theory it has higher density? This has been challenged by physicists for a long time that electrons only travel on the outer rim of the wire, then add conspiracy theory that copper mining companies are holding back data that wires are too oversized to begin with.... I don't know.

But ramsey is right in cases of crimped or not, it does matter. You cannot crimp solid wire. You have to solder it.