Quote:
Originally Posted by MambaJack
Seems like I have read of people using both in their busses to wire the 110 from the ac panel. Is there much of a difference? looking 12 gauge
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I'm not an electrician...but if I remember correctly
Not sure of your use of the word "busses". Are you referring to school busses or electrical busses? Electrical busses are the 3 metal strips in the electrical panels - you connect all of the wires together by screwing them to the 3 busses - hot, common, and ground. All of the wires & fuses in your school bus wiring are hooked together on a 12 volt "bus". Some vehicles use the frame for the ground "bus". Computers have multiple "busses" in them - 12v, 5v, usb, pci, ect. Don't ask me why they call them "busses"
Short answer, yes they can be mixed on the busses. Generally speaking bigger wire is better. Bottom line.... depends on what you are going to use it for.
1. Stranded wire can carry more current, something called the "skin effect"? Electrons travel on the surface of the strands and there is more surface area on stranded wire than single strand romex.
2. Stranded wire is more flexible and therefore easier to route into tight places and work with. However it is a bit like string and can get hard to push.
3. Stranded wire usually costs more than romex.
4. There are different types of insulation. Automotive stranded wire has insulation that can tale more heat and should be used any where there is heat such as near engines. There are also special insulations for very high heat like in ovens, furnaces, heaters, etc. but they are usually stiff and/or brittle.
5. There are different types of stranded wire. Automotive, extension cords, and welding cables have more & smaller wires for a given size than the stranded wire used in construction.
6. Stranded is easier to solder (solder is a more positive connection and therefore more vibration proof) than romex if that is a consideration.
7. Insulation type is very important. UV resistant should be used for outdoor wiring. I've already covered heat resistant for automotive (and machinery). Water resistant for outdoors or underground. Extension cords also have thicker insulation for rough usage. Round extension cords also usually have double insulation (each wire is insulated, the outside cover is a second insulator, and some have paper insulation embedded in them). Flat extension cords just have bare wires embedded in a soft thick outer insulation and have a greater chance of shocking you or just getting a wire cut in half, not really a good choice. Note: extension cords are not a good choice where heat is concerned because they will overheat easier. I use them for stuff like running tail lights because of the outdoors, toughness properties and there are 3 or more wires inside of 1 cord.
Make sure the wire is rated for the voltage (insulation) and amperage (wire size) that you are using.
There is more to it than what I have covered but I hope that you got the point.....no 1 type of wire is good for all applications. This is very easily researched and you shouldn't be relying on advice from people like me for your decision. We are talking fire and/or electrocution hazards as well as equipment failures. 110v can kill you. Get it right.