1. What is DC Voltage Drop?

The DC voltage drop is the reduction in voltage in an electrical circuit due to the resistance of the conductors. It's important to calculate to ensure proper operation of electrical devices.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the DC voltage drop equation:

Where:

• \( V_{drop} \) — Voltage drop (V)
• \( I \) — Current (A)
• \( L \) — Length of conductor (m)
• \( \rho \) — Resistivity of conductor material (Ω·m)
• \( A \) — Cross-sectional area of conductor (m²)

Explanation: The factor of 2 accounts for the round-trip path of the current (out and back). The voltage drop increases with current, length, and resistivity, but decreases with larger conductor area.

3. Importance of Voltage Drop Calculation

Details: Excessive voltage drop can lead to poor equipment performance, overheating, and safety hazards. Electrical codes typically limit voltage drop to 3-5% of the supply voltage.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter current in amperes, length in meters, resistivity in Ω·m (1.68×10⁻⁸ for copper), and cross-sectional area in square meters. All values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why does voltage drop matter?
A: Excessive voltage drop can cause equipment to malfunction, reduce efficiency, and potentially create safety hazards.

Q2: What's a typical acceptable voltage drop?
A: For most applications, voltage drop should be less than 3% for feeders and 5% for branch circuits.

Q3: How can I reduce voltage drop?
A: Use larger conductor size, reduce circuit length, or decrease the current load.

Q4: What's the resistivity of common conductors?
A: Copper: 1.68×10⁻⁸ Ω·m, Aluminum: 2.65×10⁻⁸ Ω·m, Silver: 1.59×10⁻⁸ Ω·m.

Q5: Does this calculator work for AC circuits?
A: No, AC circuits require additional factors like power factor and reactance for accurate voltage drop calculations.