Stranded patch cord

The key physical difference between a stranded cable and a solid cable is flexibility. Stranded cables are much more flexible and can withstand more bending compare to rigid solid conductors that can fail if flexed too many times. And the more strands a conductor has, the greater the flexibility. Strand count can also impact cost — the more strands that make up a wire, the greater the cost.

To keep costs down, stranded twisted-pair cable uses a high enough strand count to maintain proper flexibility but not so many that it creates a dramatic price difference. The construction of the cable also impacts termination. IDCs on jacks, patch panels and connecting blocks are made for solid cable.

The individual conductors of a solid cable will hold their shape and properly seat in the IDC, while stranded conductors will typically break and can come loose over time. Solid wire is also considered more rugged and less susceptible to corrosion since it has less surface area than a stranded wire. Another key difference is electrical performance. Solid cables are better electrical conductors and provide superior, stable electrical characteristics over a wider range of frequencies, offering lower susceptibility to high-frequency effects and lower DC resistance than stranded cables.

When it comes to horizontal cable runs, there is no choice. Solid cable is the standard due to its better electrical performance and ability to punch down to IDCs. Where you do have a choice is with patch cords since most manufacturers offer both. Because stranded cables are more flexible and can withstand bending, they make excellent patch cords for equipment connections and cross-connects where cables are frequently bent and manipulated. Patch cords are also shorter in length, so the higher resistance of the stranded construction is not typically a concern.

When PoE is delivered over twisted-pair copper cabling, some of the power dissipates as heat. When power dissipates as heat, the temperature within the cable can increase. With their higher DC resistance, stranded patch cords are more likely to exhibit degraded transmission performance at elevated temperatures. While not typically a concern in environmentally-controlled spaces like the TR, once you start connecting devices in the ceiling think wireless access points, security cameras and LED lights , stranded patch cords could be an issue.

Skip to main content. With Infinity Cable Products you have the ability to purchase pre made patch cords that are already terminated. Stranded cable can also come in bulk lengths such as feet giving you the customization to create your own custom runs and patch cords.

It is important to mention here that stranded cable has higher attenuation and is not recommended for longer runs. That is why they should be kept to a shorter length.

Knowing what is stranded cable will help when deciding what category cable to choose. Now that we know that stranded cable should be kept short and can be flexible in tight areas and around corners we want to then decide which category to choose.

Stranded cable will come in multiple categories such as Cat5e, Cat6 and Cat6A. The types of each of these categories can vary from unshielded to shielded. This factor depends on the surroundings environment.

Choosing the right cable is important for your installation so we hope this article helped! For some additional information on stranded cable:. What is Stranded Cable? For some additional information on stranded cable: What is Insulation in Cable?