VOLTAGE DROP
CALCULATION
BASED ON PHILIPPINE
ELECTRICAL CODE OF
2017
TOPIC OUTLINES
I. WHAT IS VOLTAGE DROP?
II. IMPORTANCE OF VOLTAGE DROP?
III. EFFECTS OF EXCESSIVE VOLTAGE
DROP?
IV. HOW TO REDUCE VOLTAGE DROP?
V. VD BASIC FORMULA AND PEC 2017
PROVISIONS
VI. VD SAMPLE COMPUTATION/
ELECTRICAL DESIGN ANALYSIS
What is Voltage Drop?
❑ It specifies how the voltage source is reduced as
the electric current flows through an element or
equipment in a circuit
❑ It is the decrease of electric potential along the
path of a current flowing in a circuit.
ARTICLE 1.3-ELECTRICAL PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS
❑ 1.3.2.1 Plan Requirements
❑ F. Design Analysis. Design analysis shall be
included on the drawings or shall be
submitted on separate sheets of standard
size, and shall show:
(3) Calculation of voltage drops.
EFFECTS OF EXCESSIVE VOLTAGE DROP
I. It can cause lights to burn
dimly or to flicker.
II. Excessive voltage drop can result to build-up of
heat which in turn can damage the insulation
leading to safety issues such as fires and shock.
III. It reduces the operating efficiency of motors, lighting
loads, appliances and other electrical equipment.
HOW TO REDUCE VOLTAGE-DROP?
I. Increase the size/diameter of your
wires/cables.
II. We can use voltage regulators
III. Reducing the load current/Decreasing
conductor length
VOLTAGE DROP BASIC FORMULA AND PEC 2017 PROVISIONS
❑ ARTICLE 2.15-FEEDERS
❑ FPN NO. 2: Conductors for feeders, as defined in Article 1.1,
sized to prevent a voltage drop exceeding 3% at
the farthest outlet of power, heating, and
lighting loads, or combinations of such loads,
and where the maximum total voltage drop on
both feeders and branch circuits to the farthest
outlet does not exceed 5%, will provide
reasonable efficiency of operation.
VOLTAGE DROP BASIC FORMULA
(A) Voltage Drop (VD) = kDI x √(R2 + X2) (B) Percent Voltage Drop = [(VDMDP + VDFL) / VS] x 100%
where: where:
I = Line Current, Amperes VDMDP = voltage drop from the source to the
D= distance of the device from the reference source main distribution panelboard
k = Constant (2 for Single-Phase and 1.732 VDFL = voltage drop from the main
Three-Phase) distribution panelboard to the
R = line ac resistance, ohms farthest load.
X = line reactance at 60 Hz, ohms
SINGLE-LINE DIAGRAM
SOURCE
%VDMDP VDMDP = voltage drop from the source to the
main distribution panelboard
MAIN DISTRIBUTION
PANELBOARD
%VDTOTAL ≤ 5%
%VDFL VDFL = voltage drop from the main
distribution panelboard to the
BRANCH farthest load.
CIRCUITS
FARTHEST LOAD
SAMPLE PANELBOARD FOR VOLTAGE DROP CALCULATION
SINGLE-LINE DIAGRAM
SOURCE
(A) Voltage Drop (VD) = kDI x √(R2 + X2)
From Table 10.1.1.9 Alternating-Current Resistance
and Reactance for 600-Volt Cables, 3-Phase, 60 Hz,
%VDMDP 75°C-Three Single Conductors in Conduit
From the Load Schedule:
MAIN DISTRIBUTION The Service Entrance Conductor is
PANELBOARD sized at 80 mm2 THHN Wire using a 50
mm IMC Pipe.
%VDTOTAL ≤ 5%
The Resistance from the table is 0.079
Ω/305 m and the Reactance is 0.052
Ω/305 m
%VDFL
Note :Assuming that the distance of
BRANCH the main distribution panelboard from
CIRCUITS
the source is 50 meters and that of the
farthest load from the main distribution
panelboard is 67 meters.
FARTHEST LOAD
SINGLE-LINE DIAGRAM FOR VOLTAGE DROP CALCULATION
SOURCE
(A) Voltage Drop (VD) = kDI x √(R2 + X2)
Voltage Drop from the Source to the MDP
(VD) = kDI x √(R2 + X2)
%VDMDP
(VDMDP) = (2) (50/305) (170.96) x √[(0.079)2+(0.052)2]
(VDMDP) = 5.301 volts
MAIN DISTRIBUTION
PANELBOARD
%VDFL
BRANCH
CIRCUITS
%VDTOTAL ≤ 5%
FARTHEST LOAD
SINGLE-LINE DIAGRAM FOR VOLTAGE DROP CALCULATION
SOURCE
(A) Voltage Drop (VD) = kDI x √(R2 + X2)
Voltage Drop from the Source to the MDP
(VD) = kDI x √(R2 + X2)
%VDMDP
(VDMDP) = (2) (50/305) (170.96) x √[(0.079)2+(0.052)2]
(VDMDP) = 5.301 volts
Voltage Drop from the MDP to the farthest load
MAIN DISTRIBUTION
PANELBOARD
(VD) = kDI x √(R2 + X2)
(VDMDP) = (2) (67/305) (4.9) x √[(2.0)2+(0.054)2]
(VDMDP) = 4.307 volts
%VDFL
BRANCH
CIRCUITS
%VDTOTAL ≤ 5%
FARTHEST LOAD
SINGLE-LINE DIAGRAM FOR VOLTAGE DROP CALCULATION
SOURCE
(A) Voltage Drop (VD) = kDI x √(R2 + X2)
Voltage Drop from the Source to the MDP
(VD) = kDI x √(R2 + X2)
%VDMDP
(VDMDP) = (2) (50/305) (170.96) x √[(0.079)2+(0.052)2]
(VDMDP) = 5.301 volts
Voltage Drop from the MDP to the farthest load
MAIN DISTRIBUTION
PANELBOARD
(VD) = kDI x √(R2 + X2)
(VDMDP) = (2) (67/305) (4.9) x √[(2.0)2+(0.054)2]
(VDMDP) = 4.307 volts
PERCENT VOLTAGE DROP:
%VDFL (%VD) = [(VDMDP + VDFL) / VS] x 100%
(%VD) = [(5.301 volts + 4.307 volts)]/230 volts] x 100%
BRANCH
CIRCUITS (%VD) = 4.177 % (within the allowable range)
%VDTOTAL ≤ 5%
FARTHEST LOAD
VOLTAGE-DROP ON A
THREE-PHASE SYSTEM
Note: Assuming that the farthest load is the 3-Phase Motor Pump with a distance of 47 meters and that of the MDP to the tapping
point is 50 meters. Compute for the Voltage-Drop of the System.
SINGLE-LINE DIAGRAM
SOURCE
(A) Voltage Drop (VD) = kDI x √(R2 + X2)
From Table 10.1.1.9 Alternating-Current Resistance
and Reactance for 600-Volt Cables, 3-Phase, 60 Hz,
%VDMDP 75°C-Three Single Conductors in Conduit
From the Load Schedule:
MAIN DISTRIBUTION The Service Entrance Conductor is
PANELBOARD sized at 5.5 mm2 THHN Wire using a 25
mm PVC Pipe.
%VDTOTAL ≤ 5%
The Resistance from the table is 1.2
Ω/305 m and the Reactance is 0.050
Ω/305 m
%VDFL
Note :Assuming that the distance of
BRANCH the main distribution panelboard from
CIRCUITS
the source is 50 meters and that of the
farthest load from the main distribution
panelboard is 47 meters.
FARTHEST LOAD
SINGLE-LINE DIAGRAM FOR VOLTAGE DROP CALCULATION
SOURCE
(A) Voltage Drop (VD) = kDI x √(R2 + X2)
Voltage Drop from the Source to the MDP
(VD) = kDI x √(R2 + X2)
%VDMDP
(VDMDP) = (1.732) (50/305) (17.61) x √[(1.2)2+(0.050)2]
(VDMDP) = 6.005 volts
MAIN DISTRIBUTION
PANELBOARD
%VDFL
BRANCH
CIRCUITS
%VDTOTAL ≤ 5%
FARTHEST LOAD
SINGLE-LINE DIAGRAM FOR VOLTAGE DROP CALCULATION
SOURCE
(A) Voltage Drop (VD) = kDI x √(R2 + X2)
Voltage Drop from the Source to the MDP
(VD) = kDI x √(R2 + X2)
%VDMDP
(VDMDP) = (1.732) (50/305) (17.61) x √[(1.2)2+(0.050)2]
(VDMDP) = 6.005 volts
Voltage Drop from the MDP to the farthest load
MAIN DISTRIBUTION
PANELBOARD
(VD) = kDI x √(R2 + X2)
(VDMDP) = (1.732) (47/305) (6.8) x √[(1.2)2+(0.050)2]
(VDMDP) = 2.180 volts
%VDFL
BRANCH
CIRCUITS
%VDTOTAL ≤ 5%
FARTHEST LOAD
SINGLE-LINE DIAGRAM FOR VOLTAGE DROP CALCULATION
SOURCE
(A) Voltage Drop (VD) = kDI x √(R2 + X2)
Voltage Drop from the Source to the MDP
(VD) = kDI x √(R2 + X2)
%VDMDP
(VDMDP) = (1.732) (50/305) (17.61) x √[(1.2)2+(0.050)2]
(VDMDP) = 6.005 volts
Voltage Drop from the MDP to the farthest load
MAIN DISTRIBUTION
PANELBOARD
(VD) = kDI x √(R2 + X2)
(VDMDP) = (1.732) (47/305) (6.8) x √[(1.2)2+(0.050)2]
(VDMDP) = 2.180 volts
PERCENT VOLTAGE DROP:
%VDFL (%VD) = [(VDMDP + VDFL) / VS] x 100%
(%VD) = [(6.005 volts + 2.180 volts)]/230 volts] x 100%
BRANCH
CIRCUITS (%VD) = 3.559 % (within the allowable range)
%VDTOTAL ≤ 5%
FARTHEST LOAD
Kaizen BLITZ Engineering
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