Voltage Drop Tables

The National Electrical Code limits voltage drop to a maximum of 5% of nominal. Circuit runs must be of sufcient capacity to
TABLE A - IMPORTANT ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION INFORMATION
12 VOLT SYSTEM
TOTAL WATTS
ON WIRE RUN

#12

378

283

WIRE GUARD

94

450

716

1138

70

570

450

409

338

300

180

108

24

189

113

21

1518

818

212

119

20

955

257

133

18

600

283

162

16

#6

360

178

14

#8

515

226

12

#10

MAX. LENGTH OF WIRE RUN (FEET)

324

10

6 VOLT SYSTEM
TOTAL WATTS
ON WIRE RUN

286

171

89

273

141

225

1301

#12

910

10

650

14

715

477

455

434

357

112

179

284

162

84

134

75

119

71

43

24

178

102

45

27

227

112

47

28

325

143

53

30

24

379

204

64

33

21

238

70

40

20

150

90

44

18

#6

129

56

16

#8

MAX. LENGTH OF WIRE RUN (FEET)

81

12

538

WIRE GUARD

#10

114

68

38

108

60

95

25

86

136

216

344

25

21

34

54

86

30

75

120

190

303

30

19

30

48

76

40

53

85

135

214

40

13

21

33

53

35

65

48

103

44

50

70

43

75

31

16

10

250

36

19

10

225

43

23

12

200

54

27

14

175

72

34

17

150

108

45

21

125

112

68

28

100

164

27

16

25

14

22

260

35

178

15

48

172

11

50

115

100

57

150

69

49

175

42

200

40

225

36

250

12

14

17

21

11

29

14

43

18

44

27

11

63

28

17

125

39

17

11

75

86

25

10

10

Values not shown in Table A may be calculated using the following formulas:
I. Maximum Length (Feet) = Table B Constant Value
Maximum Load (Watts)
Example: Find the maximum circuit length for #8 wire on a 24 volt system with an 80 watt load.
Maximum Length (Feet) = 21613 80 = 270 feet.
Table B Constant Value
Maximum Length (Feet)
Example: Find the maximum circuit load for 540 feet of #12 wire on a 32 volt system.
Maximum Load (watts) = 15197 540 = 28 watts.
II. maximum Load (Watts) =

SYSTEM

TABLE B CONSTANT VALUES PER VOLTAGE SYSTEM WIRE SIZE (MAXIMUM VOLTAGE DROP 5%)
6 VOLT

WIRE SIZE
CONSTANT

#12
534

#10
849

12 VOLT

#8
350

#6
2148

#12
2137

#10
3397

32 VOLT

SYSTEM
WIRE SIZE
CONSTANT

#12
15197

#10
24157

#8
38423

#8
5403

24 VOLT

#6
8590

#4
13660

#12
8548

#10
13588

48 VOLT

#6
#4
61090 97140

#12
34193

#10
54353

#8
21613

#6
34363

#4
54641

110 VOLT

#8
#6
#4
#12
#10
#8
#6
#4
#2
86452 137454 218565 179575 285450 454025 721875 1147850 1824900

Uniform Loads
The maximum circuit length data in Table A (and derived from Table B) assumes that 100% of the load is concentrated at the end of the run.
If equally sized loads can be equally spaced along the run, maximum circuit length can be increased by the multipliers shown in Table C.

TABLE C - MULTIPLIERS FOR EQUALLY SIZED, EQUALLY SPACED LOADS (MAXIMUM VOLTAGE DROP 5%)
NUMBER OF FIXTURES

MULTIPLY DISTANCE BY

2
2
1.333

3
3
1.500

4
4
1.600

5
5
1.670

6
6
1.714

7
7
1.750

8
8
1.777

9
9
1.800

10
10
1.818

N
N
2n /(n +1)

Information republished is for reference only. Local codes and the local authority having jurisdiction are the most reliable sources to
ensure code compliance.
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A Hubbell Lighting, Inc. brand with representatives ofces in principal cities throughout North America.
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bject to change without notice. Printed in U.S.A.

0600686 Rev C 1/16