Master Voltage Drop: Advanced Calculator, Practical Examples & NEC Guidelines

Advanced Voltage Drop Calculator with Solved Examples & Formulas

What is allowable Voltage Drop?

According to the NEC (National Electric Code) [210.19 A (1)] FPN number 4 and [215.2 A (3)] FPN number 2, the allowable Voltage drop for feeders is 3% and the acceptable voltage drop for final sub circuit and branch circuit is 5% for proper and efficient operation.

For example, if the Supply voltage is 110V, then the value of allowable voltage drop should be;

Allowable Voltage Drop = 110 x (3/100) = 3.3V.

Master Voltage Drop: Advanced Calculator, Practical Examples & NEC Guidelines

We have already discussed the selection of proper size of cable for electrical wiring installation in SI and British system with examples.In the above article, we have also explained the voltage drop calculation and voltage drop formula as well as online cable size calculator.

Today, we are going to share an Online Advanced Voltage Drop Calculator and Voltage Drop formulas in detail with solved examples.

Good to know: Read the full description below the voltage drop calculator for better explanation as there are many voltage drop calculation formulas with example. in addition, there is also a very simple method to calculate the voltage drop.

Also check

Electrical Wire & Cable Size Calculator (Copper & Aluminum)
Wire & Cable Size Calculator in AWG

Voltage Drop Calculator (Advanced)

Enter value and click on calculate. Result will be displayed

Note: This Calculator is also available in our Free Electrical Technology Android App

More related Electrical & Electronics Engineering Calculators

Voltage Drop Formulas and Calculation

Basic Voltage Drop Formula.

The basic electrical Voltage drop formula is;

V_D = IR ……. (Ohm’s Law).

Where;

V_D = Voltage Drop in Volts.
I = Current in Amperes.
R = Resistance in Ohms (Ω).

But this is not always the case, and we can’t run the wheel of the system with this basic formula (Why? See below cases as well).

Voltage Drop Formula for Steel Conduit.

This is the approximate voltage drop formula at unity power factor, cabal temperature 75˚C, and cable conductors in steel conduit.

V_D = (2 x k x Q x I x D) / cm for Single Phase.

V_D = (1.732 x k x Q x I x D) / cm for Three Phase.

Where;

Cm = the cross sectional area of the conductor in circular mils.
D = the one way distance in feet.
I = the circuit current in amperes.
Q = the ratio of AC resistance and DC resistance (R_AC/R/_DC) for conductor larger than 2/0 for skin effect.
k = specific resistivity = 21.2 for Aluminum and 12.9 for Copper.

Voltage Drop formula for Single Phase and DC Circuits

When wire length is in feet.

V_D= I × R

V_D = I × (2 × L × R / 1000)

Where ;

V_D = Voltage Drop in Volts.
I = Wire Current in Amperes.
R = Wire Resistance in Ohms (Ω) [Ω/kft].
L = wire distance in feet.

And;

When Wire length is in meters.

V_D = I × (2 × L × R / 1000)

Where;

V_D = Voltage Drop in Volts.
I = Wire Current in Amperes.
R = Wire Resistance in Ohms (Ω) [Ω/km].
L = wire distance in meters.

Voltage Drop Calculation and Formulas for Three Phase system.

For 3 Phase 3 Wire system. (Delta Connection)

V_D= 0.866 × I × R

V_D= 0.866 × I × 2 × L× R/ 1000

For 3 Phase 4 Wire systems. (Star Connection)

V_D= 0.5 × I × R

V_D= 0.5 × I × 2 × L× R/ 1000

Where;

V_D = Voltage Drop in Volts.
I = Wire Current in Amperes.
R = Wire Resistance in Ohms (Ω) [Ω/km or] or (Ω/kft).
L = wire distance in meters or feet.

Wire cross sectional area calculations

Wire cross sectional area in kcmil (kilo circular mils)

A_n = 1000×d_n² = 0.025 × 92^(36-n)/19.5

Where;

An = cross sectional area of “n” gauge wire size in kcmil.
kcmil = kilo circular mils.
n = the number of gauge size.
d = wire square diameter in in².

Wire cross sectional area in square inches (in²).

A_n = (π/4)×d_n² = 0.000019635 × 92⁽^36–n)/19.5

Where;

An = cross sectional area of “n” gauge wire size in square inches (in²).
n = the number of gauge size.
d = wire square diameter in in².

Wire cross sectional area in kcmil (kilo circular mils)

A_n = (π/4) ×d_n² = 0.012668 × 92^(36-n)/19.5

Where;

An = cross sectional area of “n” gauge wire size in square millimeters (mm²)
n = the number of gauge size.
d = wire square diameter in mm².

You may also read: How To Locate Faults In Cables? Cable Faults, Types & Causes

Wire diameter Calculation

Wire diameter in Inches formula

d_n = 0.005 × 92^(36-n)/39 …. In inches

Where “n” is number of the gauge size and “d” the wire diameter in inches.

Wire diameter in mm (millimeters) formula

d_n = 0.127 × 92^(36-n)/39 …. In millimeters (mm).

Where “n” is number of the gauge size and “d” the wire diameter in mm.

Wire Resistance calculations formula

(1). R_n = 0.3048 × 10⁹ × ρ / (25.4² × A_n)

Where;

R = Resistance of the wire conductors (in Ω/kft).
n = # of Gauge size.
ρ = rho = resistivity in (Ω·m).
An = the cross sectional area of n #gauge in square inches (in²).

Or;

(2). R_n= 10⁹ × ρ/ A_n

Where;

R = Resistance of the wire conductors (in Ω/km).
n = # of Gauge size.
ρ = rho = resistivity in (Ω·m).
An = the cross sectional area of n #gauge in square millimeters (mm²).

Voltage Drop at the End of the cable formula and calculation.

V_End = V – V_D

Where;

V_End = Supply voltage at the end of the cable.
V = Supply voltage.
V_D = Voltage Drop in the cable conductors.

Voltage Drop Calculation formula for Circular mils

V_D = ρ P L I / A

Where;

V_D = Voltage drop in volts.
ρ = rho = specific resistivity in (Ω – circular mils/foot).
P = Phase Constant = 2 (for single phase and DC system) and = √3 = 1.732 (for three phase system)
L = wire length in feet.
A = wire area in circular mils.

How to calculate voltage drop in copper conductor (1 & 3 phase)?

The voltage drop in copper conductors can be calculated via the below simple and easy formula with the help of the following table.

V_D = f x I … L = 100 feet

Where;

f = factor from the table below.
I = Current in amperes.
L = conductor length in feet (100 feet).

(See the solved example below the table for clear understanding)

Master Voltage Drop: Advanced Calculator, Practical Examples & NEC Guidelines

Solved Example on Voltage Drop Calculations

Example: Suppose, Voltage is 220V single phase, current is 5A, Conductor length is 100 feet, and Wire gauge (AWG) is #8. Calculate the voltage drop?

Solution:

The voltage drop can be found by the following formula
V_D = f x I … L = 100 feet

Since the factor for #8 AWG conductor is 0.125 (from the above table). Now, putting the values in the above formula.

V_D = 0.125 x 5A x ( for 100 feet)

V_D = Voltage drop = 0.625V.

P.S: The above voltage drop calculator provides approximate values and we do not guarantee of 100% accurate results as results may change with different and real cables, conductors, wires and different resistivity of material, number of strands in wire, temperature and weather condition, conduit and PVC etc.