Wire

Wire
WIRE CHART
12 Vol
t
acceptable cable size (mm)

Amps
0.5
1
1.5
2
3
4
5
7.5
10
15
20
25
30
40
60
80
100
125

1
0.4
0.4
1.84
1.84
1.84
1.84
1.84
1.84
1.84
1.84
2.9
4.6
4.6
7.9
13.6
25.7
32.2
49.2

2
0.4
0.4
1.84
1.84
1.84
1.84
1.84
1.84
1.84
1.84
2.9
4.6
4.6
7.9
13.6
25.7
32.2
49.2

Cabl
e Length (metres)
5 10 15 20 25
0.4 0.4 1.84 1.84 1.84
0.4 1.84 1.84 1.84 1.84
1.84 1.84 1.84 1.84 2.9
1.84 1.84 1.84 2.9 4.6
1.84 1.84 2.9 4.6 4.6
1.84 2.9 4.6 7.9 7.9
1.84 4.6 4.6 7.9 7.9
2.9 4.6 7.9 13.6 13.6
4.6 7.9 13.6 13.6 13.6
4.6 13.6 25.7 25.7 25.7
7.9 13.6 25.7 25.7 32.2
7.9 25.7 25.7 32.2 49.2
13.6 25.7 32.2 49.2 49.2
13.6 25.7 49.2 49.2
25.7 49.2
25.7 49.2
32.2
49.2

30
1.84
1.84
2.9
4.6
7.9
7.9
13.6
25.7
25.7
32.2
49.2
49.2

1
0.4
1.84
1.84
1.84
1.84
1.84
1.84
1.84
2.9
4.6
4.6
7.9
13.6
25.7
32.2
49.2

2
0.4
1.84
1.84
1.84
1.84
1.84
1.84
1.84
2.9
4.6
4.6
7.9
13.6
25.7
32.2
49.2

All the methods ofdeterminingvoltage drop on this

page are for DC only. AC electricitybehaves quite
differently.
M etriccables are specifiedbythe copper area (in square
millimetres),the number ofstrands ofwire and the
number ofconductors or cores in each sheath. The
voltage drop is the same regardless ofvoltage,assuming
that amps,distance and cross sectional areas are the
same. Ifthe wattage remains the same for different
voltages,the amps can be calculatedbydividingwatts
byvolts.

TheFormul
a
Ifyou needto calculate the voltage drop under a given
set ofcircumstances,there is a formula bywhich it can
be determined.
Let:

A = cross sectional area ofcable in (mm

)
L = route length in metres
I= current measuredin amps
R = resistance ofcable ( )
aluminium = 0.028
resistance ofcopper = 0.017
steel = 0.18

Example:
You have a power point connectedto a power source.
The route length is 8 metres. Ifthe wire is 4.6 mm
multi-strandedcopper cable andthe expectedcurrent is
expectedto be 10amps,we have:

acceptable cable size (mm)

Amps
1
2
3
4
5
7.5
10
15
20
25
30
40
60
80
100
125

Copper Conductor

Voltage Drop = 2x L x Ix R A

24 Vol
t
Cabl
e Length (metres)
5 10 15 20 25
0.4 1.84 1.84 1.84 1.84
1.84 1.84 1.84 1.84 1.84
1.84 1.84 1.84 1.84 2.9
1.84 1.84 1.84 2.9 4.6
1.84 1.84 2.9 4.6 4.6
1.84 2.9 4.6 4.6 7.9
1.84 4.6 4.6 7.9 7.9
2.9 4.6 7.9 13.6 13.6
4.6 7.9 13.6 13.6 25.7
4.6 7.9 13.6 25.7 25.7
4.6 13.6 25.7 25.7 25.7
7.9 13.6 25.7 25.7 32.3
13.6 25.7 32.2 49.2 49.2
25.7 25.7 49.2 49.2
32.2 32.2 49.2
49.2 49.2

Pl
asti
c Insul
ati
on

Wh at:

Low voltage power systems often operate at rather high

current levels. Ifthe interconnectingcables are too small,
a large proportion ofthe power available will be wastedin
the cable itself. This loss can be reducedbyusinga larger
cable,but this increases costs. The acceptable maximum
voltage drop for DC loads is 5% of nominal battery
voltage. The chart and the formula on this page are
providedto help you in selectingthe best cost /power loss
compromise.

A =5
30
1.84
1.84
2.9
4.6
4.6
7.9
13.6
25.7
25.7
25.7
32.2
49.2

NOTE: The Cable Length in the above tables are route

length which is halfthe total conductor length. Ifthe
positive and negative leads are different lengths an
average must be taken.

L =9

I= 10

R = 0.017

Voltage drop can then be calculatedto be 0.58volts. If

this figure is consideredto be acceptable it wouldavoid
spendingmore moneyon larger wire.
mm

per metre

30 m rol
l ampaci
ty

1.84

twi
n sheathed

W IR-M02 W IR-302

15 amps

2.9

twi
n sheathed

W IR-M03 W IR-303

20 amps

4.6

twi
n sheathed

W IR-M05 W IR-305

25 amps

7.9

si
ngl
e (bl
ackor red)

W IR-M08 W IR-308

45 amps

13.6

si
ngl
e (bl
ackor red)

W IR-M14 W IR-314

70 amps

25.7

si
ngl
e (bl
ackor red)

W IR-M25 W IR-325

90 amps

32.

si
ngl
e (bl
ackor red)

W IR-M32 W IR-332 110 amps

49

si
ngl
e (bl
ackor red)

W IR-M49 W IR-349 150 amps

or extra low voltage

NOTE: The above cables are ratedf
133