Is it true that electrical wires can vibrate when in use?

Question

A guy at Home Depot scared the beejeezus out of me today when showing me those little strain relief screws you are supposed to use at the service panel if you drop a new electric wire in. He said electrical wires can vibrate against the sharp metal, wear through the wire casing, and pose a fire hazard over time if you don't use the reliefs. I have only wired two new circuits into my house panel in the past few years, but I didn't pay close attention to it. I'm going to check it again as I'm doing some new wiring ... but is this true? I always thought wires inside the walls or panel were still and secure with or without the strain relief?

Answer 1

yes and no ...  i would suggest   it called heat tranfere,   when u heat up any  object , any thing will move to some degree

  but it not voilet as mr home depot  suggested  mmmmm

  i would suggest you need to ask a  person that installs wire,and not some 18 year  old    that knows    nothing......

Answer 2

Wires subjected to very very high voltages will vibrate due to the electromagnetic field generated by the flowing current. With smaller voltages and currents the vibration is much less, and generally not destructive.

In your case, the strain relief screws are to prevent the wires from being pulled out of the panel, NOT due to vibrating wires. He was right that you should use them, but wrong for the reasoning.

Answer 3

yes it is true

Answer 4

Some contractors, and of course electricians, not everyone, have the ability to put the back of their fingers against the wires and tell you if they're on or off.

      I have this ability, it's just a sensitivity to the vibrations coming from the wires.

Answer 5

Yes they do vibrate at 60 cycles per second.  This is the low pitched hum you hear around transformers.  The movement is too small to be seen.  Some people can feel it through the insulation.

Answer 6

Yes electricity will vibrate, and over time it may rub something, but unless its totally loose, I dont think you have anything to worry about. Ive wired many many houses and havent had anyone tell me that they have had that happen.