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Maximum Permissible Voltage Drop Guidelines

This document discusses calculating voltage drop and maximum cable length for power cables. It provides formulas for calculating voltage drop in AC and DC systems based on factors like cable resistance, reactance, current and length. It notes that standards typically specify a maximum permissible voltage drop of 5-10% at full load to ensure equipment operates correctly. The document shows how to calculate the maximum cable length that would result in the specified maximum voltage drop.

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71 views1 page

Maximum Permissible Voltage Drop Guidelines

This document discusses calculating voltage drop and maximum cable length for power cables. It provides formulas for calculating voltage drop in AC and DC systems based on factors like cable resistance, reactance, current and length. It notes that standards typically specify a maximum permissible voltage drop of 5-10% at full load to ensure equipment operates correctly. The document shows how to calculate the maximum cable length that would result in the specified maximum voltage drop.

Uploaded by

BaoLC
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

is the nominal full load or starting current as applicable (A)

is the ac resistance of the cable (Ω/km)


(

is the ac reactance of the cable (Ω/km)


(
Page
is the load power factor (pu) | 27

is the length
ngth of the cable (m)

For a DC system:

Where is the dc voltage drop (V)

is the nominal full load or starting current as applicable (A)

is the dc resistance of the cable (Ω/km)


(

is the length of the cable (m)

Maximum Permissible Voltage Drop

It is customary
tomary for standards (or clients) to specify maximum permissible voltage drops, which is the highest
voltage drop that is allowed across a cable. Should your cable exceed this voltage drop, then a larger cable size
should be selected.

Maximum voltage drops across a cable are specified because load consumers (e.g. appliances) will have an input
voltage tolerance range. This means that if the voltage at the appliance is lower than its rated minimum voltage,
then the appliance may not operate correctly.

In general,
neral, most electrical equipment will operate normally at a voltage as low as 80% nominal voltage. For
example, if the nominal voltage is 230VAC, then most appliances will run at >184VAC. Cables are typically
sized for a more conservative maximum voltage drop,
d in the range of 5 – 10% at full load.

Calculating Maximum Cable Length due to Voltage Drop

It may be more convenient to calculate the maximum length of a cable for a particular conductor size given a
maximum permissible voltage drop (e.g. 5% of nominal
nominal voltage at full load) rather than the voltage drop itself.
For example, by doing this it is possible to construct tables showing the maximum lengths corresponding to
different cable sizes in order to speed up the selection of similar type cables.

The maximum
aximum cable length that will achieve this can be calculated by re-arranging
re arranging the voltage drop equations
and substituting the maximum permissible voltage drop (e.g. 5% of 415V nominal voltage = 20.75V). For a three
phase system:

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