Disadvantages of stranded wire?

• A. Costs more
• B. Costs less
• C. Easier to terminate on screws
• D. Smaller diameter

Answer: (A)

Stranded wire’s main downside is its higher cost. Because it’s made from many fine copper strands and requires extra manufacturing steps to bind and insulate them, more material and labor go into stranded wire, pushing the price up compared to solid conductors of the same current-carrying capacity. The other statements aren’t accurate: stranded wire doesn’t cost less, and for the same gauge it doesn’t have a smaller diameter (it can actually be larger in overall diameter due to the stranded bundle and insulation). Also, termination on screw terminals isn’t inherently easier with stranded wire; in practice a proper termination often needs careful preparation or ferrules to ensure a secure clamp.