Voltage Drop Calculator

Guide on Using the Voltage Drop Calculator

This Voltage Drop Calculator is designed to help you determine the voltage drop in an electrical circuit based on a set of input parameters. The calculated results will assist you in understanding how much voltage is lost to resistance in the wiring of your electrical system. Follow the steps below to effectively use this calculator.

Step 1: Enter System Voltage

Select the system voltage from the available options. This is the voltage at which your system operates. The options available are:

• 120V
• 208V
• 240V
• 277V
• 480V

Note: This is a required field.

Step 2: Specify Wire Length

Enter the one-way length of the wire in feet. This field accepts numerical values ranging from 1 to 10,000 feet. Make sure to input the correct length to achieve accurate results.

Note: This is a required field.

Step 3: Enter Load Current

Input the load current in Amps that the circuit will carry. This field accepts values from 0.1 to 1000 Amps.

Note: This is a required field.

Step 4: Choose Conductor Size

Select the size of the conductor based on AWG or kcmil. The options available are:

• 14 AWG
• 12 AWG
• 10 AWG
• 8 AWG
• 6 AWG
• 4 AWG
• 2 AWG
• 1 AWG
• 1/0 AWG
• 2/0 AWG
• 3/0 AWG
• 4/0 AWG

Note: This is a required field.

Step 5: Select Conductor Material

Choose the conductor material used in the wiring. The options are:

• Copper
• Aluminum

Note: This is a required field.

Step 6: Enter Power Factor

Input the power factor of the load. This field accepts values between 0.1 and 1.0. The power factor should be a decimal number with a precision of up to two decimal places (e.g., 0.95).

Note: This is a required field.

Understanding the Results

Once all the input fields are correctly filled, the calculator will provide the following results:

Voltage Drop

This result shows the actual voltage drop in the circuit, expressed in Volts. It accounts for the wire length, current, power factor, conductor size, and material.

Voltage Drop Percentage

This percentage indicates how much the voltage drops compared to the system voltage. It helps in assessing the efficiency of the electrical distribution line.

Voltage at Load

This result provides the voltage level at the point of the load, after accounting for the voltage drop. It is essential to ensure that this voltage aligns with the requirements of the connected equipment.

By following these steps and understanding the results, you can effectively use the Voltage Drop Calculator to ensure an efficient and safe electrical installation.