West Penn Wire Blog

Solid Vs. Stranded Cable

Posted by Samantha Flannery on May 23, 2019 10:02:00 AM
In low voltage cabling, we hear the terms solid and stranded on a regular basis. When these two terms are being discussed it generally goes back to the copper material within the cable and how it is arranged.  The main, distinct difference between these two is t he overall flexibility.  In the article below we will be looking at some distinct differences between the two. 
 
Stranded cables are made from several thinner wires that are woven together into one cohesive bunch and are insulated. These cables are used in situations where the wire is installed in cramped space. This cable can also be used when the wire needs to be highly flexible and in areas with a great deal of vibration.  In a low voltage system, a stranded conductor may consist of 7, 19 or even more strands to make an AWG size.  For example, a 7-strand of 26awg will give a DCR of an 18AWG.  Other factors to consider for stranding is skin effect.  Skin effect is a phenomenon where the electrons in a conductor become stimulated and travel on the outside surfaces of the conductor. A stranded conductor compared to a solid conductor of the same AWG has more surface area hence a better, quicker signal.
 
Advantages:
  • Highly Flexibility
  • Easier to Route
  • Can withstand large amounts of repetitive motion
  • Replaced less often
Disadvantages:
  • Expensive
Solid cables use one solid copper wire per conductor and they  should not be bent or twisted repeatedly. They are traditionally used as a backbone cable in walls, conduit, ceilings, where a great amount of flexibility is not needed. This cable is more rigid and transmits signals well over long distances. Also, solid cables are cheaper to manufacture so they are considered  to be more cost-effective. 
 
Advantages: 
  • Cost-Effective
Disadvantages:
  • Cant withstand large amounts of repetitive motion
  • Not highly  flexible
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Topics: Low Voltage Cables, bulk cable, Solid Cable, Stranded Cable

Different Types of Coax Cables

Posted by Samantha Bante on Apr 23, 2018 9:00:00 AM

If you are familiar with low voltage cables in anyway, you have heard of coaxial cable before and the cable's impedance. Two of the most commonly used that we will discuss more in this article are 50 ohm and 75 ohm and the shielding that is most commonly seen within them.

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Topics: Low Voltage Cables, bulk cable, coax cable, impendance, pre-terminated 50 ohm assemblies, 50 ohm assemblies, coaxial cables

Different Types of Category Cable Shielding

Posted by Samantha Bante on Mar 14, 2018 10:00:00 AM

As technology advances each year, shielded category cables are becoming more commonly used for a variety of small to large scale projects. Although these are not always required, they are highly spec'd and suggested.

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Topics: Low Voltage Cables, Category 7 Cable, Category Cable, Category 6A Cable, shielded cable, bulk cable

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