Types of Copper Wires Used in DIY, Household Works

It is common to face guides and tutorials DIY electronics works and household repair like we talked about solid core copper wire in another guide. Here is a brief, easy description with illustration of types of copper wires used in DIY, household works. We will mention the common gauges too so that you face less trouble in real. Copper wire are sold different varieties, and the differences may be confusing.

Types of Copper Wires Used in DIY, Household Works

Obviously there are two major types – insulated and non-insulated or bare copper wire. Bare copper wire commonly used for winding coils. Among the insulated type, the material of insulation differs. Among various types of insulated copper wires, there is solid core, braided, stranded copper wire and of course there are more types. However, for our topic solid core, braided, stranded copper wire are major types.

Solid and stranded copper wire are two types which are similar with few differences. Solid wire is a single, thick strand of copper inside the insulation. On the other hand, stranded copper wire is a thick bundle of many copper wire strands, which can be bound or twisted together inside insulation to form a whole. Stranded wire is more malleable but solid wire is more rigid. Solid copper wire more practical for electronics works while stranded copper wire more resistant to environmental corrosion and suitable for household wiring. There is a special type of common stranded copper wire named twisted pair cable.

Similar to the stranded copper wire variants, another type of copper can come as weaved copper wire, they are called braided copper wire. Unless there is need, commonly you need not to use this variant.

What will be the correct gauge of copper wire, that can be easily calculated using various online tools and free mobile phone applications, this is an example online application :

There are rulers with holes to measure the gauge of copper wire. Typically breadboard holes only handle a small range of wire gauges, most often 22 gauge. Lower will be the number, more will be the thickness. Adafruit has a table which may help you :