The following voltage drop

Voltage Drop Calculations values in Table 8 of Chapt

considers voltage drop. M
entire NEC when sizing w

Data Entry Window Printable View Re

1 480 No 9
Select voltage Maximum voltage drop all

2 5% The NEC indicates in a FPN that a 3% voltage 10

Select the max desired voltage drop (0%-5%) drop on branch or feeder circuits provides Minimum voltage allowed a
reasonable efficiency of operation.

3 Three Phase 11
Select phase type Multiplier

4 Stranded Copper Uncoated 12

Select the type of wire Resistance/1000' of w

5 AWG 8 * 13
Select the size of wire if known Wire Size

6 400 * Note: If only one of cells 5,6 and 7 is left blank, 14

Enter the length of wire (0-5000') if known then a calculated value will appear to the left of Distance
the cell.

7 40 * 15
Enter Amps (0-6000) if known Maximum Amps

8 1 If the wire is smaller than AWG 1/0 then parallel 16

wires are not allowed except per 310.4
Select the number of parallel wires exceptions. Minimum number of paralle
(1 is non-parallel) or 2-25 pairs

Enter data into these cells Calculated information

Directions: Fill in blank cells 1-8. If you leave only one entry blank in cells 5, 6 or 7, then a recommended maximum will app
wire in cell 13 is given in cell 23. If this cell turns red, the wire size in cell 13 is not large enough to carry even the minimum lo
as per 110.14(c). This number does not consider any other factors such as insulation type, continuous load, correction factor

Formulas used:

9. Maximum voltage drop allowed = Circuit Voltage(Cell 1) X Maximum voltage drop 17. Actual voltage drop = R
% allowed(Cell2). xD

10. Minimum Voltage drop allowed at load = Voltage(Cell 1) - Max vd allowed (Cell 9) 18. Acutal Voltage with load

11. Multiplier = 1 (if cell 3 is single phase) 19. Voltage Difference = Ac

Multiplier = square root of 3 or 1.732050808 (if cell 3 is three phase) If ok then this cell turns
12. Resistance/1000' of wire = resistance of the type wire in cell 14 and 20. Total Resistance per fo
sized per cell 13 from Table 8

13. Size wire =Cell 5 (if known and entered in cell 5) 21. Minimum wire size = th
Size wire =Cell 21 (if unknown and cell 5 is left blank) the

14. Distance=Cell 6 (if known and entered in cell 5) Resistance =

Distance =Cell 22 (if unknown and cell 6 is left blank)

15. Maximum Amps= Cell 7 (if known and entered in cell 7) 22. Distance =
Maximum Amps= see below (if cell 7 is left blank) Amps(Cell 1
Max voltage drop(Cell 9) x Number of parallel wires(Cell 8)
Resistance/foot(Cell 20) x Distance(Cell 14) x Multiplier(Cell 11) 23. Max Ampacity of the se

16. Number of sets of parallel wires=Cell 8 (if known and entered in cell 8)
Number of sets of parallel wires=1 (if unknown and cell 8 is left blank)

The calculations above were based on the following equations: 24. Amps above or below l

Vd= I x R x L x M Where: Vd= Maximum Voltage Drop in volts Disclaimer: Voltage dro
P only considerations whe
I= Current in Amps must be considered, su
I= Vd x P the type of insulation, th
RxLxM R= Resistance in ohms per foot the temperature rating
the size of the breaker,
R= Vd x P L= Length of wire one way in feet grounding, or control), c
IxLxM to check voltage drop.
M= Multiplier
L= Vd x P 2 for single phase or Wirelab Services
IxRxM or 1.732050808 for three phase Please report any error
Bill Bamford
P= I x R x L x M P= Number of parallel runs Albany, Georgia
Vd Bill_Bamford@Yahoo.c
Date of last revision or
 The following voltage drop calculations were all based on the resistance
values in Table 8 of Chapter 9 of the 2011 NEC. This spreadsheet only
considers voltage drop. Many other factors affect wire size. Refer to the
entire NEC when sizing wire.

Results Window
24 7 21.56 volts (ok)
Maximum voltage drop allowed Actual voltage drop

456.00 18 458.44 volts (ok)

Minimum voltage allowed at load Actual voltage with load

1.7320508076 19 2.44 volts (ok)

Multiplier Voltage difference

0.778 20 0.0007780 ohms

Resistance/1000' of wire Total resistance per foot

AWG 8 21 AWG 8
Wire Size Minimum wire size for voltage drop

400.00 22 445 feet

Distance Maximum distance with this load

40 23 40 amps@60F
Maximum Amps Max ampacity of the wire in Cell 13 per Table
310.16 of the 2011 NEC

1 24 0.00 amps (ok)

Minimum number of parallel wires Ampacity above or below load

Good data Bad data

commended maximum will appear to the left of the cell. The Ampacity of the
gh to carry even the minimum load. This ampacity is calculated in Table 310.16
ontinuous load, correction factors or adjustment factors.

Actual voltage drop = Resistance(Cell 20) x Amps(Cell 15)

x Distance(Cell 14) x Multiplier(Cell 11)

Acutal Voltage with load = Voltage(Cell1) - Acutal Voltage drop(Cell17)

Voltage Difference = Actual Voltage(Cell 18) - Min. voltage(Cell 10)

If ok then this cell turns green, if not then it turns red
Total Resistance per foot = Res. in table 8 of Cell 4 and Cell 13
1000 x number of parallel wires (Cell 16)

Minimum wire size = the wire that has low enough resistance to carry 6
the load without more than the max voltage drop.

Resistance = Max voltage drop((Cell 9) x parallel wires(Cell 16)

Amps(Cell 15) x Length(Cell 14) x Multiplier(Cell 11)

Distance = Max voltage drop(Cell 9) x parallel wires (Cell 16)

Amps(Cell 15) x Resistance(Cell 20) x Multiplier(Cell 11)

Max Ampacity of the selected wire in Cell13 =

The ampacity of the conductor listed in Cell 4 and Cell 13 per

Article 110.14(C) and Table 310.16. Note: This is the maximum
ampacity allowed under ideal conditions.

Amps above or below load = Ampacity of Cell 23 - Ampacity of Cell 15

Disclaimer: Voltage drop calculations and Table 310.16 are not the
only considerations when sizing conductors. Many other factors
must be considered, such as: the type of load, the ambient temp,
the type of insulation, the association with other conductors,
the temperature rating of the equipment, the type of environment,
the size of the breaker, the type of circuit (branch, feeder, service,
grounding, or control), continuous load, etc. Use this spreadsheet
to check voltage drop. See the NEC to size wires.

Wirelab Services
Please report any errors to:
Bill Bamford
Albany, Georgia
Bill_Bamford@Yahoo.com
Date of last revision or correction: July 2011
 " Wirelab - A Residential Wiring Course" is the latest product of Wirelab Services. The
software was written in Visual Basic by Bobby Bamford, an electrical engineer in Orlando,
Fla. The text book was written by his twin brother Bill Bamford, a state licensed electrician
in Albany, Ga, who taught electrical classes in a Technical College for 8 years.

For further information contact either:

A Residential Wiring Course Bobby_Bamford@Yahoo.com or Bill_Bamford @ Yahoo.com
or see our brochure at
by Wirelab Services www.wirelabservices.com

Wirelab is a residential wiring course which utilizes both textbook and software to teach residential wiring to students in Electrical Classes. The software is only
available to students in schools which purchase a three year site license. The software is downloaded onto a jump drive so that the student can use it at his convience
on any PC. The textbook has 17 chapters covering all aspects of house wiring with an assignment in the software for each chapter's topic. The student will wire a
complete house on the computer. Each chapter progresses through the steps of roughing in and trimming out a house. As each assignment is completed, the software
checks the student's work. If any faults are found, the errors are reported. Any codes that are violated can be viewed. The student works through the reported error list
until he is able to pass the assignment. He then reads the next chapter and then works another assingment in the software. The student must also complete lab work
at school. This course does not eliminate the need for hands on training. It teaches what to do. Labs teach how to do it. If a student knows which size boxes, wires and
panels to use, then teaching the student how to install them and to the make connections becomes easy. The floorplan below is wired by the student as he reads
through the textbook. Many other floor plans are available for wiring. The software also has tools which can be used to create new floor plans and then to check them for
code violations. The software and book are updated for the latest codes every three years. If you know of any school which may be interested in this software, please let
us know. We will be glad to send them information and pricing on the course. The drawings on the following pages are samples from the software.

Panels must be wired, with proper breaker selection Sample trim-out inspection All receptacles, switches, lights, and appliances must be wired
Each cable wire in the panel must be pulled to the appropriate
ground bar, neutral bar or breaker. The main bonding jumper
must also be installed, if required. Once the panel is wired, the
power can be turned on. Then each main breaker, branch circuit
breaker or switch can be toggled to turn on and off any ceiling
fans, lights, receptacles, appliances, etc.

When a breaker in the panel is selected, the entire branch circuit is highlighted in blue lines When a cable is selected in a device box, the cable is highlighted in blue and the box
on the floor plan. (Notice the cursor on breaker #1) is circled. (Notice the cursor on the third cable from left)

When a cable is dragged from box to box on the floorplan, the cable ends become visible inside
the boxes, fixtures, appliances and panels. Then the student drags the ends of each conductor
to the appropriate terminal. Then a trimout test is requested. The software presents an interactive
report that explains any errors found. The student corrects the error and reruns the trimout test.
until all tests pass. After the building is wired, the power can be turned on, and all switches and
breakers can be toggled to view the results on screen.

Table of Contents:

I. Introduction
The Wirelab Textbook I. Roughing-in the house
1. Installing Service and Panel Enclosures
2. Installing Receptacle Boxes
3. Installing Swtich and Lighting Fixture Boxes
4. Installing Appliance Enclosures
5. Installing Service and Feeder Cables
6. Installing Branch Circuit Cables
7. Installing Cables for Restricted Branch Circuits
8. Installing Cables for Switches and Fixtures
9. Installing Cables for Appliances
10. Finishing up the Rough-in
II. Trimming-Out the House
11. Wiring Receptacles
12. Wiring Single Pole Switches
13. Wiring 3-Way and 4-Way Switches
14. Wiring Fixtures and Ceiling Fans
15. Wiring Appliances
16. Wiring Services and Subpanels
17. Finishing up the Trim-out
III Appendix
A. Voltage and Current
B. Grounding Equipment and Buildings
C. Wire Sizing
D. Box Sizing (Box Fill Calculations)
E. Tools of the Trade The illustration above shows a branch circuit that has all lights wired hot.
F. International Building Codes on Drilling and Notching Wood The 2011 NEC requires the use of four conductor cables for 3-way and
G. The Functioning of GFCI 4-way switches wired this way in order to meet the new code requiring
H. The Functioning of AFCI a neutral conductor in every switch box for future use [NEC 404.2 (C)].
I. Wirlab's Rough-in and Trim-out Inspections This illustration is in Chapter 13 for wiring 3-way and 4-way switches.
J. Definitions and Abbreviations The Wirelab software allows the user to waive this requirement if he is
K. NEC Residential Code Changes in a jurisdiction that does not adopt this new code.
L House 1 Assignments