Long-distance transmission of electrical power can result in voltage drops due to several factors, including resistance in transmission lines, inductive reactance, and the skin effect.
To mitigate voltage drops in long-distance transmission, several strategies can be employed, such as:
Regular maintenance and monitoring of transmission lines, as well as ongoing upgrades to infrastructure and technology, are essential to ensuring the reliable and efficient transmission of electrical power over long distances.
To calculate the voltage drop, input the current, length, material, AWG, and type of circuit. The calculator will use the appropriate formula to determine the voltage drop.
For AC Single-phase and DC circuits:
$$ V_{drop} = \frac{2 \times I \times \rho \times L}{A} $$
For Three-phase circuits:
$$ V_{drop} = \frac{\sqrt{3} \times I \times \rho \times L}{A} $$
Let's calculate the voltage drop for a copper wire (AWG 10) with a current of 15 A, a length of 50 meters, and a single-phase AC circuit.
Given:
Using the formula for AC Single-phase:
$$ V_{drop} = \frac{2 \times 15 \times 1.68 \times 10^{-8} \times 50}{5.261 \times 10^{-6}} $$
Calculating the voltage drop:
$$ V_{drop} = \frac{2 \times 15 \times 1.68 \times 10^{-8} \times 50}{5.261 \times 10^{-6}} = 4.9 \text{ V} $$
Use the table below to find the cross-sectional area and resistance for different AWG sizes:
| AWG | Cross-Sectional Area (mm²) | Resistance (Ohms per 1000m) |
|---|---|---|
| 0000 (4/0) | 107.22 | 0.1608 |
| 000 (3/0) | 85.029 | 0.2028 |
| 00 (2/0) | 67.431 | 0.2557 |
| 0 (1/0) | 53.475 | 0.3224 |
| 1 | 42.408 | 0.4066 |
| 2 | 33.631 | 0.5127 |
| 3 | 26.67 | 0.6464 |
| 4 | 21.151 | 0.8152 |
| 5 | 16.773 | 1.028 |
| 6 | 13.302 | 1.296 |
| 7 | 10.549 | 1.634 |
| 8 | 8.366 | 2.061 |
| 9 | 6.634 | 2.599 |
| 10 | 5.261 | 3.277 |
| 11 | 4.172 | 4.132 |
| 12 | 3.309 | 5.211 |
| 13 | 2.624 | 6.571 |
| 14 | 2.081 | 8.285 |
| 15 | 1.65 | 10.448 |
| 16 | 1.309 | 13.174 |
| 17 | 1.038 | 16.612 |
| 18 | 0.823 | 20.948 |
| 19 | 0.6527 | 26.415 |
| 20 | 0.5176 | 33.308 |
| 21 | 0.4105 | 42.001 |
| 22 | 0.3255 | 52.962 |
| 23 | 0.2582 | 66.784 |
| 24 | 0.2047 | 84.213 |
| 25 | 0.1624 | 106.19 |
| 26 | 0.1288 | 133.9 |
| 27 | 0.1021 | 168.85 |
| 28 | 0.081 | 212.92 |
| 29 | 0.0642 | 268.48 |
| 30 | 0.0509 | 338.55 |
| 31 | 0.0404 | 426.9 |
| 32 | 0.032 | 538.32 |
| 33 | 0.0254 | 678.8 |
| 34 | 0.0201 | 855.96 |
| 35 | 0.016 | 1,079.3 |
| 36 | 0.0127 | 1,361 |
| 37 | 0.01 | 1,716.2 |
| 38 | 0.007967 | 2,164.1 |
| 39 | 0.006318 | 2,728.9 |
| 40 | 0.00501 | 3,441.1 |
| Material | Conductivity, σ (Ω⋅m)⁻¹ | Resistivity, ρ (Ω⋅m) | Temperature Coefficient, α (°C)⁻¹ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silver | 6.29×10⁷ | 1.59×10⁻⁸ | 0.0038 |
| Copper | 5.95×10⁷ | 1.72×10⁻⁸ | 0.0039 |
| Gold | 4.10×10⁷ | 2.44×10⁻⁸ | 0.0034 |
| Aluminum | 3.77×10⁷ | 2.65×10⁻⁸ | 0.0039 |
| Tungsten | 1.79×10⁷ | 5.60×10⁻⁸ | 0.0045 |
| Iron | 1.03×10⁷ | 9.71×10⁻⁸ | 0.0065 |
| Platinum | 0.94×10⁷ | 10.60×10⁻⁸ | 0.0039 |
| Steel | 0.50×10⁷ | 20.00×10⁻⁸ | 0.006 |
The acceptable voltage drop is typically within 5%, but it can vary based on electrical system requirements, load conditions, cable types, length, and national/regional electrical standards.