4.

Voltage drop

Length and current are to be multiplied by the tabulated values of voltage drop in
this section, to calculate the voltage drop in mV.
The values of voltage drop are given for a current of one ampere for 1 meter run, and
represent the result of the voltage drops in all the circuit conductors.
The values of voltage drop in Table 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3, assume that the conductors are
at their maximum permitted normal operating temperature.
The values of voltage drop in Table 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3, for cables having conductors of
16 mm2 or less cross-sectional area are calculated based on resistance only and given
as (mV/A/m)r. For cables having conductors greater than 16 mm2 cross-sectional
area calculations of voltage drop were based on impedance value and given as
(mV/A/m)z, as per IEE wiring regulations.

Vd = V/A/m × L × I (4.1)
Vd: Voltage drop in (mV)
V/A/m: Tabulated voltage drop in mV/A/m (table 4.1, table 4.2 or table 4.3), for 3-
phase circuit the tabulated voltage drop relates to line voltage
L: Length-run in meter (m)
I: The designed current of the circuit in ampere (A)

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Table 4.1 Voltage drop (mV/A/m) for Copper/PVC cables
A.C D.C
Un-armored Armored Un-armored /Armored Un-armored /Armored
Single-core Single-core Muli-core Sinlge-core Multi-core
3/4 3/4 3/4 3/4 3/4 3/4
2
SIZE mm cables cables cables cables Two-core 1φ 3/4-core 3φ
cables cables Two cables Two-core
Touching Touching Touching Touching (A.C) (A.C)
Trefoil Flat Flat* Trefoil Flat Flat*
1 38 - - - 44 38 44
1.5 25 - - - 29 25 29
2.5 15 - - - 18 15 18
4 9.5 - - - 11 9.5 11
6 6.4 - - - 7.3 6.4 7.3
10 3.8 - - - 4.4 3.8 4.4
16 2.4 - - - 2.8 2.4 2.8
25 1.5 1.55 1.55 - - - 1.75 1.5 1.75
35 1.1 1.1 1.15 - - - 1.25 1.1 1.25
50 0.82 0.84 0.86 0.82 0.84 0.86 0.94 0.81 0.93
70 0.57 0.6 0.63 0.58 0.62 0.68 0.65 0.57 0.63
95 0.43 0.47 0.51 0.45 0.5 0.57 0.5 0.43 0.46
120 0.36 0.4 0.44 0.37 0.43 0.5 0.41 0.35 0.36
150 0.3 0.34 0.4 0.32 0.38 0.45 0.34 0.29 0.29
185 0.26 0.31 0.36 0.27 0.34 0.41 0.29 0.25 0.23
240 0.22 0.27 0.34 0.23 0.3 0.37 0.24 0.21 0.18
300 0.19 0.25 0.32 0.21 0.28 0.34 0.21 0.185 0.145
400 0.175 0.24 0.31 0.195 0.26 0.32 0.185 0.16 0.105
500 0.16 0.23 0.3 0.18 0.25 0.3 - - 0.086
630 0.15 0.22 0.29 0.17 0.23 0.28 - - 0.068

* Spacings between cables ≤ Cable diameter

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Table 4.2 Voltage drop (mV/A/m) for Copper/XLPE cables
A.C D.C
Un-armored Armored Un-amored/Armored Un-amored/Armored
Single-core Single-core Muli-core Sinlge-core Multi-core
3/4 3/4 3/4 3/4 3/4 3/4
2
SIZE mm cables cables cables cables Two-core 1φ 3/4-core 3φ
cables cables Two cables Two-core
Touchin Touchin Touchin Touchin (A.C) (A.C)
g Trefoil g Flat Flat* g Trefoil g Flat Flat*
1 40 - - - 46 40 46
1.5 27 - - - 31 27 31
2.5 16 - - - 19 16 19
4 10 - - - 12 10 12
6 6.8 - - - 7.9 6.8 7.9
10 4 - - - 4.7 4 4.7
16 2.5 - - - 2.9 2.5 2.9
25 1.6 1.6 1.65 - - - 1.9 1.65 1.85
35 1.15 1.15 1.2 - - - 1.35 1.15 1.35
50 0.87 0.87 0.89 0.87 0.88 0.9 1 0.87 0.99
70 0.61 0.62 0.65 0.62 0.65 0.7 0.69 0.6 0.68
95 0.45 0.46 0.49 0.47 0.52 0.58 0.52 0.45 0.49
120 0.37 0.38 0.42 0.39 0.44 0.51 0.42 0.37 0.39
150 0.31 0.32 0.37 0.33 0.39 0.45 0.35 0.3 0.32
185 0.26 0.28 0.33 0.28 0.34 0.41 0.29 0.26 0.25
240 0.22 0.24 0.29 0.24 0.3 0.37 0.24 0.21 0.195
300 0.195 0.21 0.27 0.21 0.28 0.34 0.21 0.185 0.155
400 0.175 0.195 0.26 0.195 0.27 0.33 0.19 0.165 0.12
500 0.16 0.18 0.25 0.18 0.25 0.31 - - 0.093
630 0.15 0.17 0.24 0.17 0.24 0.29 - - 0.073
* Spacings between cables ≤ Cable diameter

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Table 4.3 Voltage drop (mV/A/m) for Aluminum/XLPE cables
A.C D.C
Un-armored Armored Un-armored/Armored Un-amored/Armored
Single-core Single-core Muli-core Sinlge-core Multi-core
SIZE
2 3/4 3/4 3/4 3/4 3/4 3/4
mm Two-core 1φ 3/4 core 3φ Two cables Two-core
cables cables cables cables cables cables
16 - - - - - - 4.8 4.2 - 4.8
25 - - - - - - 3.1 2.7 - 3.1
35 - - - - - - 2.2 1.95 - 2.2
50 1.45 1.46 1.48 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.65 1.45 1.65
70 0.98 1 1.02 0.98 1 1.05 1.15 0.97 1.13
95 0.73 0.75 0.78 0.74 0.78 0.83 0.84 0.72 0.82
120 0.59 0.61 0.64 0.6 0.64 0.7 - 0.58 0.66
150 0.47 0.5 0.54 0.49 0.54 0.6 - 0.47 0.53
185 0.39 0.43 0.47 0.41 0.47 0.53 - 0.39 0.42
240 0.32 0.35 0.41 0.34 0.39 0.46 - 0.31 0.32
300 0.27 0.31 0.37 0.29 0.34 0.41 - 0.26 0.26

* Spacings between cables ≤ Cable diameter

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