How Do You Calculate Voltage Drop in a Copper Wire?

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SUMMARY

The voltage drop in a 25 m length of no. 14 copper wire carrying a 15 A current can be calculated using the formula Vdrop = I * R, where R is determined by R = rho(L/A). The resistivity of copper is 1.72 x 10^-8 ohm-meters. The correct resistance for the wire, calculated using its diameter of 1.628 mm, is approximately 0.206 ohms, leading to a voltage drop of 0.309 volts, not 3.09 volts. The error in the original calculation stemmed from a miscalculation of the voltage drop value.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Ohm's Law
  • Knowledge of resistivity and its application in electrical calculations
  • Familiarity with cross-sectional area calculations for cylindrical wires
  • Basic proficiency in unit conversions (e.g., mm to meters)
NEXT STEPS
  • Learn how to calculate the cross-sectional area of a wire using its diameter
  • Study the impact of wire gauge on voltage drop in electrical circuits
  • Explore the use of different materials and their resistivities in electrical applications
  • Investigate methods to minimize voltage drop in long wire runs
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Electrical engineers, electricians, and anyone involved in circuit design or installation who needs to understand voltage drop calculations in wiring systems.

zyphriss2
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Compute the voltage drop along a 25 m length of household no. 14 copper wire (used in 15A circuits). The wire has diameter 1.628 mm and carries a 15 A current.


Vdrop=I*R

R=rho(L/A)




I just plugged the resistivity of copper wire which is 1.72*10^-8, length, and area into find the resistance. Which is .206 and then I found the voltage drop of 3.09v which was wrong what did i do wrong?
 
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Perhaps you should show your calculation?
 

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