BCM Community
Welcome,
Guest
. Please
login
or
register
.
1 Hour
1 Day
1 Week
1 Month
Forever
Login with username, password and session length
BCM Home
Forum
Help
Forum Rules
Search
Login
Register
BCM Community
»
Bus Discussion
»
Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! )
(Moderator:
Nick Badame Refrig/ACC
) »
Solid versis stranded copper wire???????
« previous
next »
Print
Pages: [
1
]
2
3
All
Go Down
Author
Topic: Solid versis stranded copper wire??????? (Read 12702 times)
jackhartjr
Hero Member
Posts: 1347
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!
Solid versis stranded copper wire???????
«
on:
September 11, 2007, 08:02:37 PM »
Hi folks!
For those that have done conversions, which is better...and why...solid or stranded copper wire?
Also would 14 gauge work for most of the 40 foot runs to the engine, or go with 12 gauge?
Thanks in advance!
Jack
PS...any secrets to finding good wire out here?
I was in a Farm and Fleet today, they had 500 foot rolls of 12 and 14 gauge in solid and stranded. $35.00 to $59.00 depending on the gauge.
Logged
Jack Hart, CDS
1956 GMC PD-4501 #945 (The Mighty SCENICRUISER!)
8V71 Detroit
4 speed Spicer Trannsmission
Hickory, NC, (Where a call to God is a local call!)
Ncbob
Guest
Re: Solid versis stranded copper wire???????
«
Reply #1 on:
September 11, 2007, 08:12:54 PM »
Hi Jack,
Without question stranded wire is by far the best for anything which moves, be it boats or buses. In fact tinned, stranded wire is the best available. It doesn't corrode and will last the life of the bus and then some as well as having the ability to carry more current (amps) than solid core wire.
My best source is Waytek Wire in MN. They have an on-line catalog and you will find more than just wire and terminals for your needs. Too, many of us who have almost completed our conversions might have bought more than we needed and have some extra available...I do and will be happy to offer what I have for anyone who might need it.
"Onward through the fog...." is my motto!
NCbob
Logged
jackhartjr
Hero Member
Posts: 1347
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!
Re: Solid versis stranded copper wire???????
«
Reply #2 on:
September 11, 2007, 08:24:32 PM »
Hi Bob, I think you are coming to the "Non-Rally"? If so please bring what you don't need, I'll bring cash! LOL
Thanks a ton!
Jack
Logged
Jack Hart, CDS
1956 GMC PD-4501 #945 (The Mighty SCENICRUISER!)
8V71 Detroit
4 speed Spicer Trannsmission
Hickory, NC, (Where a call to God is a local call!)
Jerry Liebler
Hero Member
Posts: 1320
Re: Solid versis stranded copper wire???????
«
Reply #3 on:
September 11, 2007, 08:31:35 PM »
There are differences in insulation as well. Automotive wire is not suitable for 120 volt use, it's plain dangerous. For 120 volt wire you should get 600 volt insulation and preferably wire approved under the National Electric Code. If you are using individual wires you'll need conduit for the 120 volt 'stuff'. Thnn stranded 12 guage in flexible PVC conduit is what I used for most of my 120 volt circuts. I bought a 500 foot spool in black,white,green and red. This did all the 120 volt and the 12 volt wiring. I put the 12 volt in plastic cable wraps from the local auto parts store. When using stranded wire you do need to make all connections with crimp terminals and they need to be crimped with a proper crimp tool, not a pair of superchamps.
Regards
Jerry 4107 1120
Logged
jackhartjr
Hero Member
Posts: 1347
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!
Re: Solid versis stranded copper wire???????
«
Reply #4 on:
September 11, 2007, 08:35:10 PM »
Hi Jerry, I should have said this is for the 12 volt stuff, not the house wiring.
For the 120 stuff it will be all house wiring.
Thanks for the reply.
Jack
Logged
Jack Hart, CDS
1956 GMC PD-4501 #945 (The Mighty SCENICRUISER!)
8V71 Detroit
4 speed Spicer Trannsmission
Hickory, NC, (Where a call to God is a local call!)
Jerry Liebler
Hero Member
Posts: 1320
Re: Solid versis stranded copper wire???????
«
Reply #5 on:
September 11, 2007, 09:04:45 PM »
Jack,
By house wiring I assume you mean 'romex' or plastic sheathed cable. 'romex' is solid wire and really not the best for use in a vehicle. In using it just be sure to support it well with lots of staples,clamps or ties. It is much easier to find proper boxes etc. for romex and you don't need crimp terminals with the solid wire. I prefer the conduit and individual stranded wire method.
Regards
Jerry 4107 1120
Logged
DrivingMissLazy
Hero Member
Posts: 2634
Re: Solid versis stranded copper wire???????
«
Reply #6 on:
September 12, 2007, 04:37:36 AM »
Be very careful when buying wire from the Cheap Charlie places. Many of them sell stranded copper, however you need to find
tinned
stranded copper. A world of difference. The un-tinned will corrode, the tinned wiill not.
Richard
Logged
Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body. But rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, a good Reisling in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming: WOO HOO, what a ride
maria-n-skip
Guest
Re: Solid versis stranded copper wire???????
«
Reply #7 on:
September 12, 2007, 06:52:08 AM »
From a more than casual observation.
My bus has 12 g marine stranded wire to the Air conditioner. When I moved the breaker box I splices in with solid copper
for the connection to the breakers. They are both close to the same length and gauge.
Result is the stranded is markedly warmer than the solid. (not hot just warmer.)
Maybe I have missed something but.
Don't undersize anything. If a wire feel warm try to figure out why.
Still figuring
Skip
Logged
TomC
Hero Member
Posts: 9255
Re: Solid versis stranded copper wire???????
«
Reply #8 on:
September 13, 2007, 08:57:02 AM »
I also used stranded copper running through light weight water tight conduit available from Home Depot (Home Depot, Camping World, etc is where I got the vast majority of my supplies-of which there are many stores nationwide).
I just recently had to replace one of my main 50amp breakers. They were two separate breakers that I replaced with one double 50 for the generator. The old one kept tripping, so I thought it was worn out since it is used for the gen/land hook up. When I took it apart, the screw holding the wire was not very tight. May have been the problem, but still replaced it. With our mobile homes vibrating down the road, we should have a scheduled program to tighten accessible connections routinely to prevent problems. Good Luck, TomC
Logged
Tom & Donna Christman. 1985 Kenworth 40ft Super C with garage. '77 AMGeneral 10240B; 8V-71TATAIC V730.
maria-n-skip
Guest
Re: Solid versis stranded copper wire???????
«
Reply #9 on:
September 13, 2007, 09:19:07 AM »
TomC,
Do you tin the ends of your stranded wire?
Skip
Logged
TomC
Hero Member
Posts: 9255
Re: Solid versis stranded copper wire???????
«
Reply #10 on:
September 13, 2007, 02:36:37 PM »
Did not tin the ends. But used double wall crimp fittings. Good Luck, TomC
Logged
Tom & Donna Christman. 1985 Kenworth 40ft Super C with garage. '77 AMGeneral 10240B; 8V-71TATAIC V730.
boogiethecat
Hero Member
Posts: 635
Re: Solid versis stranded copper wire???????
«
Reply #11 on:
September 14, 2007, 09:36:22 PM »
I did a test- quite informal mind you- back a few years ago for the BNO folks. Basically stuck various wire types (all 14ga) in my milling machine chuck n vice, and bent them all up and down with the quill in an equal amount until they failed. The pictures tell the rest of the story i think....
Answer: USE STRANDED and the more strands the better....
http://www.heartmagic.com/00WIREstory.JPG
cheers
Gary
Logged
1962 Crown
San Diego, Ca
Don4107
Sr. Member
Posts: 407
Re: Solid versis stranded copper wire???????
«
Reply #12 on:
September 14, 2007, 10:40:30 PM »
Gary, Very informative test. Something everyone should take away from this thread, as has been mentioned many times before, is that whatever wire you use it needs to be secure or it can and will fail. If I was to drive my coach on our country roads with a wire that flexed going over bumps it would take me about 5 minutes to get 460 cycles!!!!!
That said my old bus was wired with romex and wire nuts by PO and never has caused a problem.
Don 4107
Logged
Don 4107 Eastern Washington
1975 MCI 5B
1966 GM PD 4107 for sale
1968 GMC Carpenter
JohnEd
Hero Member
Posts: 4571
Re: Solid versis stranded copper wire???????
«
Reply #13 on:
September 14, 2007, 11:09:58 PM »
I was told a while back that the NEC did NOT allow stranded wire in motor homes. I thought solid was a bad idea but the info was that the marine stuff was not approved. I have enuf experience and education to know that stranded is superior where and vibration or induce movement is in the environment. Period! Still, the code is the code. Can anybody straighten me out on this?
I don't know if the numbers are exactly correct but stranded cable will oxidize in less time than solid. Ten strand 14 gauge will take one tenth the time to be eaten thru as opposed to solid 14 gauge. I think the tinned stock would be worth the extra cash.
John
Logged
"An uneducated vote is a treasonous act more damaging than any treachery of the battlefield.
The price of apathy towards public affairs is to be ruled by evil men." Plato
“We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.”
—Pla
muddog16
Example is more powerful than reproach. ~Aesop
Hero Member
Posts: 506
Re: Solid versis stranded copper wire???????
«
Reply #14 on:
September 15, 2007, 04:31:03 AM »
JohnEd, The NEC is great for reference and safety, I think just about every wire in an automobile that "I" can think of is stranded! I personally like the tinned marine wire, the NEC is probably confused because it's called "marine" wire! Just kidding! Even with the price of copper today, your wiring is one of the cheaper components when converting your bus! I read in the paper just about everyday where the police catch some retard stealing copper! You would think its gold!
Logged
Pat
1982 Prevost LeMirage
8V92TA/HT754
http://prevostlemirage.blogspot.com/
Print
Pages: [
1
]
2
3
All
Go Up
« previous
next »
BCM Community
»
Bus Discussion
»
Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! )
(Moderator:
Nick Badame Refrig/ACC
) »
Solid versis stranded copper wire???????
SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2024, SimplePortal