Different Kinds of Electrical Wire
Electrical wiring comes in a wide array of configurations and materials. Modern electrical wire is comprised of a metal conductor surrounded and protected by a non-conductive insulator. In a few older homes, older non-insulated wires may still be in use. However, because electrical requirements have increased over time, most homes have been re-wired using modern electrical wiring. Does this Spark an idea?
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Solid Core
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Solid core wiring uses a solid metal core as a conductor. Solid core wiring makes better connections, but is stiffer and can be hard to route during installation. In addition, if the core breaks the electrical connection breaks.
Stranded Core
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Stranded core uses bunches of thin wires twisted together to form the core. This makes the electrical wire more flexible. In addition, if a few strands in the core break because of metal fatigue, the overall connection usually remains good because most of the wires remain connected.
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Multiple Conductor
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Electrical wiring can be made as a single conductor wire or several wires bundled together with additional insulation. Electrical wiring that has several wires bundled together is called multiple conductor electrical wiring. Examples of this are common household wiring that doesn't require an insulating conduit because of the extra insulation that contains the different conductors.
Copper Wiring
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Copper is a traditional metal used as a conductor in electrical wiring. Copper is popular because it is flexible, durable and conducts electricity well.
Aluminum Wiring
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Aluminum has come into common use as a conductor in electrical wiring because it is cheaper than copper. It is an excellent conductor, but may not be as strong as copper. However, in most installations it is an excellent metal for household electrical wiring.
Alloys
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In some industrial and high-voltage installations, metal alloys are needed to provide adequate power transmission and safety.
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