PNWguy
Well-known member
Is there any reason to spend a small extra amount and get stranded wire if I'm running conduit? The cost, overall, is insignificant.
THHN stranded vs solid
- Thread starter PNWguy
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Kevin Essiambre
Well-known member
Depends on how long the run is, and a couple other things that stranded will make easier.
I personally like solid wiring.
Sent from my new phone. Autocorrect may have changed stuff.
I personally like solid wiring.
Sent from my new phone. Autocorrect may have changed stuff.
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
At #10 and up, it will make dealing with it in boxes a lot easier. The flexibility difference is significant
sberry
Banned
I would rather use stranded. I like wire nutting it better and it doesn't loosen on screws as much installing maybe???
BajaScout
Well-known member
Stranded will flex better and may be easier to run in the conduit.
Stuart in MN
Well-known member
For #14 or #12 I don't think there's enough difference to matter. For #10 or larger, stranded makes more sense.
Don't cheap out, it's not that expensive for a roll of 500' stranded even at HD or Lowes.... the stranded ones is a lot easier to pull especially if you are stuffing more than 1/2 of the max-fill even at that #12 and #14 gauge.. it will be hard to pull...
ard
Well-known member
I prefer stranded in conduit- inside and outside, pvc or emt/metal.
Sometimes a bit more considerations required- like pigtailing to solid if it needs to be screwed down- but it is more flexible and doenst get 'ugly' with bending. (Stranded wire will stay nice and 'whippy', even when you close a cover and open later, doestn get 'set' into kinks as easily...)
Sometimes a bit more considerations required- like pigtailing to solid if it needs to be screwed down- but it is more flexible and doenst get 'ugly' with bending. (Stranded wire will stay nice and 'whippy', even when you close a cover and open later, doestn get 'set' into kinks as easily...)
Jim greengo
Well-known member
Depends on how far its going,and how many offsets in the pull.
alfredeneuman
Well-known member
Dagny
Well-known member
solid terminates better on a switch or receptacle.
Kaizen
Well-known member
Running it solo I like solid. Easier to push even with a 12. If you have close to 360 degrees of bends you will have to pull either. But just a 90 or so I like solid.
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The NEC does not allow solid insulated conductors in conduit above 10 AWG.
Terry D
Well-known member
I only run stranded. Much easier to pull, much easier to make up boxes. Be sure to get back wired devices. I even use stranded MC cable. It's a little harder to make it look nice when wiring a panel, but well worth it.
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It's not about money. The cost is insignificant in the big picture of a house & shop. I think it'll be $20 or so.
It's really all about the ease of installation, and I have only worked with Romex in the past.
Most of my runs will be straight, or a single 90* bend. The space is a 32x40 metal/auto shop and 16x30 woodshop. Long walls, with no interruptions. I'll use whatever is easier to get into the box and connect the outlet.
dutchgray
Well-known member
We only use stranded conductors in conduit in the UK (for single conductors)
On a single short straight run -- it really does not matter. If you are doing very much or may be doing some in the future ... get the stranded. It's much easier to work with -- the solid gets to be a pain ... almost instantly. Buy the 500 ft rolls and have at it.
Yes -- you need to get the back feed devices -- but, I use them anyway.
Many years ago I got a deal on a few rolls of solid #12 -- much of it is still in my garage.
Yes -- you need to get the back feed devices -- but, I use them anyway.
Many years ago I got a deal on a few rolls of solid #12 -- much of it is still in my garage.
acer66
Well-known member
I use stranded and then pigtail with solid unless I use better receptacles with pressure plates(?).
sberry
Banned
I have wrapped 1000s of stranded around screws, twist left handed first and make a fairly long strip. They are very secure. I don't care for Nutting solid to strand, Nutting strand can produce a connection as good as welded.
FWIW I would probably only buy #12 instead of both #12 and #14.
Say you will need 500' in white and black for outlets and about the same for lights, if it's all the same size it's much easier to pull multiple circuits at the same time. Easy to have a bigger selection of colors as well to help keep track of circuits.
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Say you will need 500' in white and black for outlets and about the same for lights, if it's all the same size it's much easier to pull multiple circuits at the same time. Easy to have a bigger selection of colors as well to help keep track of circuits.
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Say you are going to have your lights on 3 separate switches, to pull all 3 from one switch location at once you would need 6 rolls of wire, buying 6 rolls of #14 and only using 1/4 of each is wasteful, if you can share the wire among all of the lights and plug circuits it makes having that many rolls worthwhile.
Conduit can be the same way, given a choice I would use 3/4" for everything especially if I had to buy benders and such.
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Terry D
Well-known member
acer66
Well-known member
Yes, thank you for the proper technical term, that is what I meant.