Romex VS SO cord

[dh]

I read somewhere that it was best to use stranded wires instead of solid because vibrations could break the solid wires. But in the Gen Ben plans you can clearly see the 120V outlets wired with Romex.

Thoughts? Input?

Also, if going with the stranded SO cord, would it be beter to crimp on a spade conector or just twist the wire and clamp 'er down?

[atkryder]

SO cord with the proper size conductors can become really expensive and maybe even physically too big because of all of the insulation that is has! I wouldnt think that romex would break unless you stab the wire into the back of the devices instead of install the wire underneath the screws like it should be.


Seth

[Juneaudave]

I'm not sure that the issue is the wire breaking...I think it is more about the flexibility of romax for routing around tight corners and such in a Tear.

For what it is worth, I used an extension cord with the ends cut off and the twist and clamp method for my 110 wiring....but then again...I'm not an electrician.

[Arne]

I did use romex in the roof, but I recommend buying a good extension cord and using it instead (and cutting as needed), as it has stranded wires... but, my romex is sandwiched in the roof insulation, so am not particularly concerned, I just feel at t/d is a bad application for romex (compared to it being in a non movable house wall).

[Woodyperk6]

I used romex in mine. Three years & over 10000 miles & no problems.

[Woody]

I have yet to see any reason what so ever not to use Romex in your build of any teardrop or TTT. It keeps with the K.I.S.S principle, the price is right and it is readily available in any big box store. All of my teardrops and Serro Scotty's have mostly Romex in them. I have one teardrop that has over 24,000 miles in 4 short years and have yet to have a "vibration" problem with any wiring issue yet. I could understand the concern of solid verses stranded wire on anything used for everyday heavy use. But for the most of us don't use our teardrops more than 16-20 days ayear I don't think it is that much of a concern other than tight corner issue being more rigid the stranded wire mentioned in the above post.

[nate_s]

West Marine has the best of both worlds... Stranded Romex

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10001/13292/377%20710/0/wire/Primary%20Search/mode%20matchallpartial/0/0?N=377%20710&Ne=0&Ntt=wire&Ntk=Primary%20Search&Ntx=mode%20matchallpartial&Nao=0&Ns=0&keyword=wire&isLTokenURL=true&storeNum=5002&subdeptNum=9&classNum=538

Stranded wire is much more flexible and is therefore more desirable is tight locations. I wouldn't use SO cable due to the large diameter.

I have seen problems with improperly stripped solid wire breaking where the insulation meets the bare conductor, but this is because the wire was damaged when stripped with something other than the right size stripper. I wouldn't hesitate to use solid wire as long as it's not being flexed. Vibration isn't a problem as long as it's terminated properly.

[Steve_Cox]

Guess it comes down to personal preference. My preference is stranded wire with crimp on terminals. I ran my 120Volts with SO and the 12Volts with single conductor stranded wire. Also have been known to cut up a new extension cord in place of the SO, not as bulky, or costly.

[atkryder]

The concern with SO cord would ba ampacity! A standard extension cord has #16or #18 conductors! Where the romex will be #12 or#14! The ampacity of #12 romex is 20a and #14 romex 15A. Where the ampacity of a SO cord or extension cord to be safe probally shouldnt exceed 10a.


Seth

[Ageless]

Any time I use stranded wire to connect to plugs or switches; I tin with solder. Keeps the strands all neatly together

[bobhenry]

The concern with SO cord would ba ampacity! A standard extension cord has #16or #18 conductors! Where the romex will be #12 or#14! The ampacity of #12 romex is 20a and #14 romex 15A. Where the ampacity of a SO cord or extension cord to be safe probally shouldnt exceed 10a.


Seth

Unless you are arc welding a good heavy duty 12 gage extention cord should handle all your needs. I wired the tear ac side with 12 gage 3 wire extention cord . I did put forked crimp end on where they connected to the duplexs and switches, 3 years no probems have ran ac and multiple heaters.

[Larwyn]

The concern with SO cord would ba ampacity! A standard extension cord has #16or #18 conductors! Where the romex will be #12 or#14! The ampacity of #12 romex is 20a and #14 romex 15A. Where the ampacity of a SO cord or extension cord to be safe probally shouldnt exceed 10a.


Seth

?????? ?????

The ampacity of Romex and SO cord are the same if they are the same gauge. Romex, THHN, SIS, SO whatever are all available in larger gauges than you would ever need in a TD. I have a short piece of 4 conductor #8 SO cord out in the garage, a 25 foot 10 gauge SO cord extension, and several 20 to 50 foot 12 gauge SO cord extension cords. Actually SO cord is not intended to be enclosed in walls or conduits but I know of no reason not to use it for wiring a TD if you want to do so. I used 12 gauge stranded THHN to wire mine because that is what I had on hand.

[Elumia]

Lawryn,

I think he was just telling folks to be cognisant of the gauge of the wire and ensure it meets the load requirements. Good advice whether you decide to use solid or stranded wire.

Mark

[Steve_Cox]

Lawryn,

I think he was just telling folks to be cognisant of the gauge of the wire and ensure it meets the load requirements. Good advice whether you decide to use solid or stranded wire.

Mark

Nah, I suspect he thinks we all have our heads in our lunch buckets, and don't think about conductor sizes and ampacities. But on the other hand, I had never heard of a "Standard" extension cord before, always thought they came in wire gauge sizes.... See if you hang around long enough you can learn all kinds of things.

[atkryder]

Lawryn,

I think he was just telling folks to be cognisant of the gauge of the wire and ensure it meets the load requirements. Good advice whether you decide to use solid or stranded wire.

Mark

Nah, I suspect he thinks we all have our heads in our lunch buckets, and don't think about conductor sizes and ampacities. But on the other hand, I had never heard of a "Standard" extension cord before, always thought they came in wire gauge sizes.... See if you hang around long enough you can learn all kinds of things.

Yes I was just trying to make sure everyone realized how important it is to match your load with the proper wire size being an electrician I know all too well how important this is and becomes more important when there is no air space where the wiring is installed such as the roof of tear drop!!!

A little tip with stranded wire if you have no crimp on connectors twist the the strands counterclockwise and wrap around the screw on the device that you are using.

Seth