DC Systems

48V Voltage DropCalculator

Calculate voltage drop for 48V DC systems including telecom, data centers, solar installations, and golf carts. Industry-standard calculations.

DC Circuit Parameters

Enter your system values

Total circuit length will be 2× this value

Calculation Results

Review
Voltage Drop
2.33V
4.86%
Voltage at Load
45.67V
of 48V source
Power Loss
70.0 W

Warning - Consider larger wire size

48V Applications

  • Telecom power systems
  • Data center DC distribution
  • Large solar arrays
  • Golf carts and EVs
  • PoE++ systems
  • Battery energy storage

DC Formula

Vd = 2 × I × R × L
Vd = Voltage drop (V)
I = Current (A)
R = Resistance (Ω/ft)
L = One-way length (ft)

Voltage Calculators

48V Voltage Drop Calculation Guide

About 48V Systems

48V DC systems are widely used in telecom, data centers, and commercial solar installations. Maintaining proper voltage at the load is critical for system performance and equipment longevity.

The NEC recommends limiting voltage drop to 3% for branch circuits and 5% total for the combination of feeder and branch circuit. For DC systems, this translates to a maximum drop of 1.4V for branch circuits.

Calculation Considerations

DC voltage drop calculations are straightforward since only resistance matters—there's no reactance to consider. The formula multiplies by 2 to account for the complete circuit (positive and negative conductors).

For 48V systems, common wire sizes range from #8 AWG for moderate loads to #2/0 AWG for high-current systems. Always verify ampacity requirements alongside voltage drop calculations.