Back in the dark ages !
I believe that I was taught that all things being equal, that stranded wire would carry more current than solid wire ? Is that true or am I being misled ?
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wanderingbob wrote:
I believe that I was taught that all things being equal, that stranded wire would carry more current than solid wire ? Is that true or am I being misled ?
You were taught correctly, but the difference is negligible. What matters more is the operating temperature of the wire. The cooler the wire is, generally, the more current it will carry. (less voltage drop) Stranded wire, because it has more surface area per foot than solid wire can shed or gain heat more easily than solid wire depending on the ambient temperature and the insulation. Stranded wire has much more flexibility (resistance to vibration) than solid core wire of similar gauge, that's why you generally see its use in aerospace, automotive, and industrial applications.
As the temperature approaches absolute zero (-460 degrees F) wire conductors approach zero resistance. They become superconductors where current flows with little to no voltage.
Chum lee
