Real Voltage Drop (Series)

Series voltage drop is the progressively increasing voltage drop in a parallel connected circuit in which the loads are added sequentially, as is typical in lighting circuits. Most voltage drop calculators only calculate a single distance, with a single connected load. This is inadequate in many real world circumstances. Performing a series voltage drop calculation allows the electrical designer to size the wire more accurately, potentially lowering material and installation costs. Manually performing these calculations would be quite tedious.

The series calculator calculates the total voltage drop at the most distant connected load from the voltage source, lists the accumulated load at each segment, the voltage drop for each segment and the accumulated voltage drop at each segment.

The app also includes a standard single point voltage drop calculator that solves for conductor gauge, voltage drop, maximum length and maximum load.

Both modules can output the results in an email.

The calculators implement the method given in ANSI/IEEE Standard 141, 1993 - "Calculation of Voltage Drops" and use the formula for exact voltage drop. Many other calculators use an approximate method. The AC resistance and reactance values are from NEC Ch. 9, table 9 and the DC resistance values are from Ch. 9, table 8.

The app includes help files with explanatory text on how to correctly perform the series voltage drop calculation.