Voltage drop calculation

In calculating the voltage drop in the cables in the following example, it is assumed that the circuits are
wired from the distribution board which is located at the origin of the installation. If there is a long
length of sub-main cable from the origin of the installation, then the voltage drop along the sub-main
cable also has to be calculated in a similar manner and added to the voltage drop of the circuit wiring.
The total voltage drop from the origin to the end of the circuit should not exceed 4% of the nominal
voltage to comply with the 16th Edition of the Regulations. For 230V supply this amounts to 9.2V. The
voltage drop in a circuit is ascertained by first multiplying the length Nominal cross section Areamm2
Number and diameter of wires No./mm 3 or 4 cables in conduits or trunking 3 or 4 cables clipped direct
to a surface or cable tray Current Rating A Volt drop

mV per Amp per Metre

Current Rating

Volt drop

mV per Amp per Metre

Nominal cross section Area

mm2

Number and diameter of wires

No./mm

Current Rating

Maximum weight supported by

twin flex cord

Kg.

68

of the run in the circuit in metres by the current in the circuit in amperes. This gives a product in Metre
Amperes. When 9.2V is divided by this product, the maximum allowable voltage in volts per ampere per
metre is found. As the values in the table are given in millivolt the result should be multiplied by 1000 to
select the cable. The smallest cable having the voltage drop per ampere per metre value less than the
figure arrived from the calculations should be selected. (The normal practice would be to tentatively
select the cable on the basis of current carrying capacity and calculate the voltage drop at the rated
current. If the voltage drop is excessive a larger cable is selected using the aforementioned calculation
method.)

Example:

Find a suitable cable to carry a current of 20A in a circuit with a length of 25 metres connected to 230V
supply. The metre-ampere figure will be 20*25 = 500. Therefore maximum allowable mV/A/m will be
9.2 * 1000 / 500 = 18.4. From the table for two wire single phase wiring in conduits the smallest cable
satisfying the requirement will be 2.5 mm2 (1/1.78 or 7/0.67) having a voltage drop of 17 mV/A/m. The
voltage drop when carrying rated current will be 17*20*25 = 8.5V. (Before using this value it has to be
checked whether it can safely carry 20A under installation conditions. Example is to show voltage drop
calculation only.)