RJ Howell wrote:tony.latham wrote:Tony I'm curious about your reasoning behind stranded over solid copper wire.
I should have explained. Sold wire vibrates and hardens (work hardening). That's why stranded copper is used in aviation and marine applications.
Tony
There's quite a debate on this.. It's more of what (amperage over voltage) that matters.
I'm curious! Always open minded!
With respect, I'm not sure why you think stranded vs solid wire has anything to do with voltage vs current (amperage). Or maybe I misunderstood your post. Stranded wire has to be a little larger than solid to carry a given current a certain distance. It has nothing to do with voltage at all (for the voltages we work with). This is straight forward electrical engineering and there is no debate (among those who understand it.)
As Tony says, stranded wire should be used wherever there is vibration or the likelihood of the wire moving. It won't move in your home, or in the ground down to your well. It will in any vehicle, from teardrop to spacecraft.
If one uses solid wire in their teardrop, they're asking for a break somewhere, probably where they can't access it. I'm saying the first part because I'm an electrical engineer who worked in the aerospace industry, the second part because of Murphy's Law (which all engineers respect.)
This is the first I've heard that commercial camper builders use solid wire. Frankly, that's just incompetent, which is just one more example of many I've heard of about that industry.
Use stranded wire! Whatever extra cost is minimal compared to the headaches you'll save yourself.
As far as wire size, I'd use the wire charts (for stranded wire), and try not to use larger than I had to. Larger costs more, sure, but more important it's much harder to work with, and you're liable to make poor connections that will break over time, leading to the headaches.
Tom