Electric Wire Voltage Drop
Reference data and engineering information about electric wire voltage drop for electrical applications.
electricwirevoltagedrop
Overview
Engineering reference data for Electric Wire Voltage Drop in electrical engineering.
Key Formulas
Ohm's Law
Voltage = Current × Resistance.
Power
Electrical power.
Energy
Energy = Power × Time.
Variables
| Symbol | Description | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Voltage | V | |
| Current | A | |
| Resistance | Ω | |
| Power | W |
Voltage Drop Specifications for Common Systems
For 240V and 120V single-phase systems, the following table outlines the maximum wire length for a 2% voltage drop across different wire gauges.
11 rows
Wire Gauge (AWG) | Max Length (240V, 2% drop)(ft) | Max Length (120V, 2% drop)(ft) |
|---|---|---|
| 3/0 | 730 | 182 |
| 2/0 | 580 | 145 |
| 1/0 | 460 | 115 |
| 1 | 365 | 91 |
| 2 | 290 | 72 |
| 4 | 180 | 45 |
| 6 | 115 | 29 |
| 8 | 72 | 18 |
| 10 | 45 | 11 |
| 12 | 29 | 7 |
| 14 | 18 | 4.5 |
Source: engineeringtoolbox.com
Wire Gauge Converter: AWG to Square Millimeters
The American Wire Gauge (AWG) system can be converted to metric cross-sectional area (square millimeters) for international compatibility. The following table provides common conversions.
13 rows
AWG | Cross-Sectional Area(mm²) |
|---|---|
| 4/0 | 107.2 |
| 3/0 | 85 |
| 2/0 | 67.4 |
| 1/0 | 53.5 |
| 1 | 42.4 |
| 2 | 33.6 |
| 4 | 21.2 |
| 6 | 13.3 |
| 8 | 8.37 |
| 10 | 5.26 |
| 12 | 3.31 |
| 14 | 2.08 |
| 16 | 1.31 |
Source: engineeringtoolbox.com