In California at least, stranded is used only inside conduit for most gauges of wire, so it's seen more in non-residential. In residential, you use solid for most wiring. Stranded would only be used when you're doing things like a run that goes underground to a secondary building on the property (stranded of whatever size is needed to feed the sub panel) since you'd be running underground conduit, incoming lines, or really low gauge wires like alarms or speakers.
SpaceCadetStumpy t1_j1h3pxv wrote
Reply to comment by MyOtherAcctsAPorsche in Can I install this single pole switch in place of the dimmer switch that was here? by Affectionate_Cronut
In California at least, stranded is used only inside conduit for most gauges of wire, so it's seen more in non-residential. In residential, you use solid for most wiring. Stranded would only be used when you're doing things like a run that goes underground to a secondary building on the property (stranded of whatever size is needed to feed the sub panel) since you'd be running underground conduit, incoming lines, or really low gauge wires like alarms or speakers.