Voltage Drop Calculator

Calculate voltage drop across a wire run based on wire gauge, amperage, distance, and material to ensure NEC compliance.

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What This Calculator Does

Calculate voltage drop across a wire run based on wire gauge, amperage, distance, and material to ensure NEC compliance.

It combines Wire Gauge (AWG), Amperage (A), One-Way Distance (ft), Voltage to estimate Voltage Drop, Voltage at Load, Wire.

Formula & Method

Single-phase voltage drop is V_d=\frac{2LIR}{1000} where L is one-way distance (ft), I current (A), and R conductor resistance (\Omega/1000 ft). Percent drop is \%V_d=\frac{V_d}{V_{supply}}\times100.

Notation used in the formulas: R = Voltage Drop; x_{1} = Wire Gauge (AWG); x_{2} = Amperage (A); x_{3} = One-Way Distance (ft); x_{4} = Voltage; x_{5} = Wire Material.

Method summary: inputs are normalized to consistent units, core equations are evaluated, then secondary values are derived and rounded for display.

Use this calculator for quick scenario analysis. Start with baseline values, change one driver at a time, and compare how sensitive the results are to each input shown above.

Inputs Used

  • Wire Gauge (AWG): Used directly in the calculation.
  • Amperage (A): Used directly in the calculation.
  • One-Way Distance (ft): Used directly in the calculation.
  • Voltage: Used directly in the calculation.
  • Wire Material: Used directly in the calculation.

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