How much greater is the resistance in ohms per 1,000 feet (Ω/kFT) of an uncoated 10 AWG stranded copper conductor than that of a 10 AWG solid copper conductor?

To determine the difference in resistance between a 10 AWG stranded copper conductor and a 10 AWG solid copper conductor, it is essential to consider the physical attributes of these conductors. Stranded conductors consist of multiple smaller wires twisted together, whereas solid conductors are made from a single piece of copper.

The resistance of a conductor is influenced by its material, length, and cross-sectional area. Although both 10 AWG stranded and solid conductors are made from the same material (copper) and have the same nominal cross-sectional area, the way they are constructed impacts their effective resistance. The stranded conductor has a higher surface area due to the individual strands, which can increase the electrical resistance slightly compared to a solid conductor, primarily due to the skin effect and increased copper oxide formation.

Through standard electrical engineering references, it’s established that stranded conductors exhibit a higher resistance. Specifically, for 10 AWG copper conductors, this difference is quantified as approximately 0.03 Ω per 1,000 feet. Therefore, when comparing the resistance per 1,000 feet between these two types of conductors, the stranded version has an additional resistance of around 0.03 Ω/kFT compared to the solid form