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Calcimator

Wire Gauge Calculator

Determine the recommended AWG wire gauge based on current, distance, voltage, and acceptable voltage drop.

Inputs

A
ft
%

Results

Recommended AWG

12

Actual Voltage Drop3.18 V
Drop Percentage2.65%
Power Loss63.5 W
Total Wire Length100 ft

Recommended AWG

12

How to Use This Calculator
  1. Start by filling in the input fields below. Results update instantly as you type, so you can experiment with different values to see how they affect the outcome.
  2. Current — The current draw of the circuit in amps. Accepts values from 1 A to 200 A (default: 20 A).
  3. One-Way Distance — One-way wire run distance from panel to load. Accepts values from 1 ft to 1,000 ft (default: 50 ft).
  4. System Voltage — Nominal system voltage (120V for standard, 240V for heavy appliances). Choose from: 120V, 240V. default: 120.
  5. Max Voltage Drop — Maximum acceptable voltage drop percentage (NEC recommends 3%). Accepts values from 1 % to 10 % (default: 3 %).
  6. Once all inputs are set, review your results in the Results panel. Here's what each output means:
  7. Recommended AWG — shown as a numeric value. This is the primary result of this calculator.
  8. Actual Voltage Drop — shown as a numeric value.
  9. Drop Percentage — shown as a numeric value.
  10. Power Loss — shown as a numeric value.
  11. Total Wire Length — shown as a numeric value.
  12. Explore the related calculators below if you need deeper analysis or want to approach this topic from a different angle.
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