There are many thin copper threads in a wire. why don't we use a single thick Cu thread instead?
Answer:
Flexibility, and if solid wire breaks you're in trouble, where braided wire allows for several strands to break without causing a problem.
It may not be as malleable and would probably become brittle very quickly
The answer is flexibility. I am in the electrical distribution business. You ever try to pull 3 500kcmil wires through a three inch LB fitting? If they were solid, they would be impossible to bend and work with.
sometimes we do use a single wire.
the question is, why do you (usually) see only stranded wire?
and that is because single strand wire is used for static applications, like the wiring behind your walls, while multi-stranded wire is used in applications that require the wire to bend repeatedly, like extension cords, and appliance cords.
Flexability and heat dissipation(in welding apps.)
current flows in terms of electrons on the peripheral surface of wire.thus 2 increase the surface area we use multi strands wires in stead of solid core 2 increase current capacity
you can find in the market the single thick Cu thread.. and it have its advateged too.they are used in places where the wire is fixed and no need to remove in future.but the multi thin is used when you need to pull inside tubes,or as extention wires you will need it flexible..also as a manufacturer you can make different size of wire by adding more thin threads..rather than make many different sizes of thick wires
It's a matter of the application, Stranded wire is used nost often due to it's flexability. Solid wiring is more efficient in terms of resistance.
The copper strands make the wire flexible. The same solid copper may handle 5% more current but it will break if flexed.
In addition to reliability issues with only using a single wire, it makes it easier to attach it to other wires, components, etc. It is hard to solder one big wire, as compared to a typical wire made of smaller wires.
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