What is the main difference between solid and stranded conductors?

The main difference between solid and stranded conductors lies in their construction. Solid conductors consist of a single piece of metal, usually copper or aluminum, providing a continuous conductive path. This structure leads to less resistance at a given length when compared to stranded conductors.

In contrast, stranded conductors are made up of multiple smaller wires twisted together. This design enhances flexibility, allowing stranded conductors to bend around corners and be easier to handle in certain applications. It's worth noting that while stranded conductors are often more flexible, they do not consist of one solid piece of metal as solid conductors do.

Additionally, stranded conductors generally do not have a lower current-carrying capacity. While the different constructions can result in various physical characteristics and applications, stranded conductors typically maintain or can even exceed the current capacity of equivalent solid conductors at the same gauge, depending on the specific application and conditions.