Is solid core wire always better than stranded for residential panel work?

I keep seeing guys on job sites near Portland stripping solid 12 AWG into breakers like it's the only way, but I've had stranded fail less often on the same setups after about 4 years of service calls. Solid can crack if you over-tighten the lug or the house shifts a bit, while stranded handles that movement better. But then solid stays put in wire nuts and doesn't fray like stranded does. Which one do you trust more for 15 and 20 amp circuits?

2 comments

2 Comments

kair6520d ago

Torque specs exist for a reason, solid doesn't hold better by magic.

robinson.paul21d ago

Heard a master electrician say solid holds torque better in lugs over time.