Wiring Problem,using solid wire?

[catch22]

I have a concern,I just read that you shouldnt use solid wire to wire a machine with you should use stranded wire.
I have already ran all my wire and insulated and drywalled over it,but it is 10 gauge solid wire. The motors I will be running are all 3 phase using a rotary phase converter. The motors are a 2hp,3hp and a1 1/2hp motor. Will this be a problem I really hope not?

Thanks Mike

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Where did you read this?

Charles

 

[LoneGunman]

What they mean is you shouldn't use solid wire to terminate the connections in some machines, if you need a crimp on fork connector to make the termination solid wire is a bad choice, (Ive stopped counting how many times I've seen solid with a crimp on connector, odds are the proper crimping tool was also not used) so you splice a piece of THHN stranded to the solid, no problem. You are fine if you ran solid, in fact I'd prefer solid, terminates on devices better than stranded. The only drawback with solid stranded is easier to pull, I've been on many industrial jobs where solid THHN was spec'd for all the branch circuits.

I've heard people use the excuse that stranded has many more individual conductors where a solid, if damaged when stripping can break, I say they should learn how to strip properly.

 

[tfi racing]

Don't give it a second thought,you will be fine.For flexible connections to the motors themselves,stranded may be preferable in some cases,but solid wire can and will do the job if installed properly.

 

[Torque1st]

Terminate the solid wire on the disconnect device for the machine. Run stranded wire from the disconnect device to the machine. If I remember right the disconnect for the 2HP and 1.5HP machines can be a cord from the machine with a plug into a receptacle.

 

[catch22]

Whhooo,thats a relief thanks alot for your replies guys.
Now I will be able to sleep a little easier tonight!!

Thanks again Mike

 

[ArthurPE]

what you've done is fine...

the confusion may be the internal machine wiring, should be done with MTW (machine tool wire)...stranded is less susceptable to vibration/flexing/etc.

I would use stranded for any flexible connection...and it does perform better for the output of a VFD