Which is an advantage of stranded conductors over solid conductors?

Stranded conductors require more raw material and more complex manufacturing processes than solid conductors, resulting in higher - not lower - production costs.

Stranded conductors often require ferrules or specialized crimped lugs to prevent fraying at termination points, making connections more complex than straightforward solid conductor terminations.

Solid conductors provide better high-frequency performance because the skin effect in stranded wire concentrates current on outer strands and introduces additional resistive losses at strand-to-strand contact interfaces.

Stranded conductors consist of multiple small-gauge wires twisted together, allowing individual strands to redistribute mechanical stress during bending so no single wire bears the full strain. This construction enables repeated flexing without the metal fatigue and cracking that occurs in solid conductors, making stranded wire essential for patch cords, equipment pigtails, and any installation requiring frequent movement or routing around tight bends.