3d printing power stranded vs solid

What's the difference between solid wire and stranded wire?

Solid wire is for fixed wiring like breadboards. Stranded wire is for interconnect between separate items. Solid wire is nice because it holds it's shape. Stranded wire is much less likely to "work harden" and break when it it repeatedly flexed. Sound like your application want stranded wire. No ground wire for my switch.

Why do solid wires carry more current than stranded wires?

If the diameter of both wires are the same, the solid wire will carry more current than the stranded wire. This is because the cross sectional area of the solid wire is bigger than the stranded wire as there is air-gap between the strands of the conductor in it.

Why is stranded wire more efficient than solid wire?

Furthermore in a solid wire eddy currents form in the core of the wire which robs efficiency and creates more heat, because stranded wire has more surface area and less core area these currents can not form in a stranded wire. Because of its thickness, solid wire has a decreased surface area that reduces dissipation.

Should you use solid wires or stranded wires?

One of the key decisions to be made when manufacturing an electrical system, such as a wire harness or cable assembly, is whether to use solid wires or stranded wires. Every electrical wire includes conductive material, typically copper, that is responsible for carrying electricity — and the power and data in it — from one place to another.

Should a prototype board be stranded or solid?

For wiring up a prototype board, it is almost always recommended to use stranded wire because it is easier to route and pretty easy to solder. However, in some circumstances, solid wire works better when the wire needs to follow a particular path because it holds its shape. When soldering stranded wire, it is often helpful to tin the end first then attach it to the component.

Does stranded wire heat up faster than solid?

Due to the air gaps inherent in twisted strands, stranded wire doesn’t heat up as quickly as solid; however, those gaps make the wire unable to carry as much current and increase its surface area which means less resistance to corrosion.