Calculate voltage drop in DC and AC circuits using IEC 60364-5-52 and NEC standards. Supports wire size, length, material, temperature, and parallel conductors for engineers, electricians, and designers. Parameter Purpose Typical Values Impact on Voltage Drop Current Type DC or AC — affects resistance and reactance modeling DC, AC (50/60 Hz) AC includes inductive reactance; DC uses pure resistance Voltage Supply voltage (phase-to-neutral or phase-to-phase) 120 V, 230 V, 400 V Higher supply voltage → lower % drop for same current Load Power demand of the circuit (VA or W) 1000 VA, 5 kW Higher load → higher current → greater voltage drop Wire Size Cross-sectional area of conductor (mm² or AWG) 1 mm², 14 AWG, 6 mm² Larger size → lower resistance → less drop Phase Conductors in Parallel Number of identical conductors used in parallel 1, 2, 3 More parallel wires → reduced total resistance → lower drop Line Length One-way distance from source to load 1 m, 100 ft, 50 m Longer lines → higher resistance → more drop Conductor Material Material affecting resistivity (e.g., copper vs aluminum) Copper, Aluminum Copper has ~40% lower resistivity than aluminum Cable Type Number of conductors per cable (affects impedance) Unipolar, Bipolar, Tripolar Multi-conductor cables may have higher inductance Operating Temperature Maximum allowable temperature of insulation 70°C, 90°C, 105°C Higher temp → increased resistance → higher drop Why Voltage Drop Matters Excessive voltage drop leads to: Dim lighting — incandescent bulbs lose brightness at low voltage Motor overheating — motors draw more current to compensate, risking failure Reduced efficiency — power electronics operate outside optimal range Non-compliance — violates IEC 60364-5-52 (max 3% for lighting, 5% for other loads) Key Standards & Guidelines IEC 60364-5-52 Annex G Specifies maximum permissible voltage drop in final circuits: Lights: ≤ 3% of supply voltage Other loads: ≤ 5% Total system: ≤ 10% NEC Article 215 Requires voltage drop consideration for feeder and branch circuits: Recommended limit: 3% for feeders + 3% for branch circuits = 6% total Must be considered in design, not just troubleshooting How This Calculator Works The tool calculates voltage drop using the following principles: For DC: VD = I × R × L / 1000 (R in Ω/km, L in m) For AC: VD = √(3) × I × (R × cosφ + X × sinφ) × L / 1000 Resistance (R): R = ρ × L / A, where ρ is resistivity (Ω·mm²/m), L is length, A is cross-section Temperature correction: Resistance increases by ~0.4% per °C for copper Parallel conductors: Total resistance reduced proportionally to number of wires Common Design Mistakes Using too small wire size for long runs without checking drop Ignoring temperature effects in hot environments (e.g., motor rooms) Assuming all loads are purely resistive (ignoring PF) Not accounting for multiple conductors in parallel Applying single-phase formulas to three-phase systems incorrectly Real-World Use Cases Solar PV Systems: Ensure voltage drop from panels to inverter is within 2–3% Industrial Motors: Avoid under-voltage startup that causes high inrush current Commercial Lighting: Prevent flickering in long corridors EV Charging Stations: Verify voltage at vehicle end meets charging specs Renewable Energy Installations: Optimize cable sizing for cost and performance Note: This calculator assumes balanced three-phase loads and sinusoidal waveforms. For non-linear or unbalanced systems, consult a full-load analysis tool.