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dedicated line: 10AWG stranded or 2 solid cores?

I'm in the process of installing 2 dedicated power lines. From what I've been reading 10 AWG solid core, like VH Audio's cryoed Romex, would be optimal. However, in this part of the World we don't manufacture that kind of wire and I only found 10 AWG copper solid core monoconductor insulated in PVC, unshielded.

Hence my question: would I be better off by installing 10 AWG stranded cable, or taking 2 10 AWG solid core monoconductors putting them side by side + a stranded cable for ground and use them as if they were one line?

Thank you!
lewinskih01
lak's avatar
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lak
4,646 posts
 
Twist the wires (two plus ground) together for a noise canceling effect and run in conduit.
Make sure you have more wire then you need because by twisting the wire together it reduces the length. Place all three strands into the end of an electric drill chuck and run the drill slowly. A helper make the job easier.
lewinskih01 OP
909 posts
 
OK. So sounds like making a twisted pair of solid core still beats stranded. Good news.

Lak: the drill chuck idea is a good one. I had not thought about it. What spacing per twist should I be aiming for? 1 twist every 2 inches? Does it make a difference in sound if I use starnded cable for the ground wire only?

Thank you!
lak's avatar
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lak
4,646 posts
 
Lewinskih01,
I'm not sure that it really matters if you use solid or stranded wire for any of the wiring as long as it's 10 gauge, I have not been able to hear a difference.
I'd say the spacing should be between 2 to 3 inches but it's been six years since I've twisted wire. Make sure you buy longer wire then what you actually need because as I mentioned before the twisting consumes wire.
babybear's avatar
babybear
106 posts
 
Lewinskih01,

I agree with Lak that twisting the wire (I used 10 gauge solid core for ground, neutral and positive) is a good thing to do. In my case, the twists are 1" apart and then the wire is run through flexible steel conduit to the outlets. The other thing to try and do is to keep each of the dedicated runs less than 50 feet in length - shorter is better as this also helps with reducing effects of RFI/EMF.
lewinskih01 OP
909 posts
 
thanks Babybear.

My twisted runs will be about 25 feet long, so well under the 50 feet you recommend. Good news!
Tell me more about the flexible steel conduit: what's the purpose? Just conduit or RFI/EMI shielding as well? Do you have the counduit grounded?
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