What Is Stranded Wire?

Stranded wire cable comprises of a core that’s made from multiple individual wires that manufacturers bundle together, braided and twisted, and then wrapped inside a sheathing or jacket to form a single stranded cable. Usually, these cables use a two-number specification to identify them. For instance, a 7×12 cable will indicate a cable with 7 strands of 12 gauge wire.

Unlike its cousin, the solid wire, stranded products have more flexibility, and deliver higher resistance to metal fatigue. Typically, stranded wire types are the product of choice for printed circuit manufacturers.  That’s because using solid wire for such applications leads to greater stress on the circuits during the manufacturing process.

You also see stranded wire used in other applications, such as computer mouse cables, welding electrode cables and AC line cords. While electricians may use both solid or stranded wire for house wiring, some applications, such as wiring for thermostats and security cameras use significant amounts of Stranded cable.