Stranded vs. solid wire?

[paig2956]

Hello!

I started wiring my control panel the other night using 20 gauge solid core wire from Radio Shack.  I have read since then that a lot of people suggest using stranded wire, since it is more flexible.  Am I going to regret using solid wire?  Should I start over with some stranded?

Thanks for your thoughts/experience.
Shawn

[Chris]

The wires to your controls shouldn't need to be flexible, presuming they'll all be tied down at some point...

--Chris

[Silverwind]

The wires to your controls shouldn't need to be flexible, presuming they'll all be tied down at some point...

--Chris

Once the wire is in place, it won't make much difference..

but during hookup.. solid wire will break more easily..  not only that.. but stranded is much easier to splice etc.. (especially if it's just a quick fix with electrical tape

I went with stranded... i figure if i'm spending 100's on the rest of the cab.. might as well spend 5-10 bucks to get some decent wire.. eh?

[eightbit]

I started wiring my control panel the other night using 20 gauge solid core wire from Radio Shack.  I have read since then that a lot of people suggest using stranded wire, since it is more flexible.  Am I going to regret using solid wire?  Should I start over with some stranded?

Solid wire can break if you flex it back and forth enough times. Odds are your not going to flex it enough to break it. Many if not most network patch cables use solid wire and they flex a lot. Sometimes the less flexible is nice for routing your wires and making every thing neat.

[toilet]

I used solid in my portable sticks. It doesn't make a huge difference, but I would choose stranded over it now. I use quick disconnects and some wires have fallen out of them once or twice over the years.

[Chris]

I actually soldered my wires into my quick disconnects just to be safe...  I inserted the wired, inserted a small piece of solder alongside the wire, crimped, and applied a soldering iron to the exposed bit of wire and disconnect.  Overkill, yes, but those suckers aren't pulling out....

[eightbit]

With solid wire usually they don't pull out they break off.

Crimping it with a peice of solder in the joint then heating the solder isn't going to give you a very good crimp. At that point your relying on the soldering to hold it in place.

[SirPoonga]

stranded wire is good for crimping, solid is good for soldering.  I have a ix because that is what I had lying aroung, though mostly stranded because I have a removable panel.

[Sasquatch!]

I used solid, my next one will be stranded (for the flexability factor).  I don't REGRET using solid though.

[Punchcard]

So what all of us are trying to say is:

It is a matter of preference. If you like ease of flexibility, go stranded. if you want to bend your wires and have them stay put, go soild.

Frankly the durability difference when wiring a CP is a non issue, and I have had no problem soldering either, ever.

But I find it to be a non issue. And for the record I used solid, just because I had some already

[Zapper]

I use good old 18 gauge from radio shack. Stranded works great for daisy-chaining all the common connections, solid wire works well for the other connections because it's a little easier to connect and unconnect to an IPAC, no broken smashed strands to mess with.

[paig2956]

Thanks all for your suggestions.  I am using quick connects and have moved forward with the solid.  The funny thing is that I got a pack of red, green, and black wire from Radio Shack to use for my control panel.  I was going to use green for player 1, red for player 2, and black for the ground.  It just so happens that my three pack had stranded black wire, and it is working great for chaining common grounds!

I got the first three buttons and a joystick last night and it was great to actually be playing with it.
Shawn

[Odonadon]

Thanks all for your suggestions.  I am using quick connects and have moved forward with the solid.  The funny thing is that I got a pack of red, green, and black wire from Radio Shack to use for my control panel.  I was going to use green for player 1, red for player 2, and black for the ground.  It just so happens that my three pack had stranded black wire, and it is working great for chaining common grounds!

I got the first three buttons and a joystick last night and it was great to actually be playing with it.
Shawn

K, how did you know what wires I was using and why are you copying me?    I also used the 3 pack of green/red/black from Radioshack, but Player 1 is Red, and Player 2 is green.  Works awesomely.   I had great success with the quick connects from Home Depot.  The ones from Radio Shack weren't that good.  Not sure what the difference is, really, but the plastic kept coming off the Radio Shack ones.  Go figure.

Odonadon