AC Systems

480V Voltage DropCalculator

Calculate voltage drop for 480V three-phase industrial and commercial systems. Professional-grade calculator for feeders and motor circuits.

AC Circuit Parameters

NEC Chapter 9 Table 9 values

Calculation Results

Pass
Voltage Drop
3.82V
0.80%
Voltage at Load
476.2V
of 480V source
Power Loss
144 W

Excellent - Meets NEC recommendations

480V Applications

  • Industrial motor circuits
  • Commercial building feeders
  • Manufacturing equipment
  • Large HVAC systems
  • Elevator systems
  • Industrial lighting

AC Formula

Single Phase:
Vd = 2 × I × Z × L / 1000
Three Phase:
Vd = √3 × I × Z × L / 1000

Voltage Calculators

480V Voltage Drop Calculation Guide

About 480V Systems

480V AC systems are commonly used in industrial and commercial power distribution. Proper voltage drop calculations ensure equipment operates efficiently and safely within rated tolerances.

The NEC recommends limiting voltage drop to 3% for branch circuits and 5% total for the combination of feeder and branch circuit. For AC systems, this translates to a maximum drop of 14.4V for branch circuits.

Calculation Considerations

AC voltage drop calculations must account for both resistance and reactance of the conductors. The power factor of the load affects the effective impedance, making higher power factor loads more efficient from a voltage drop perspective.

For 480V systems, common wire sizes range from #10 AWG for light loads to 4/0 AWG for heavy feeders. Always verify ampacity requirements alongside voltage drop calculations.