Voltage Drop Calculator With Temperature

Voltage Drop Equation:

\[ V_{drop} = I \times R \times (1 + \alpha (T - 20)) \]

Current (I):

amps

Resistance at 20°C (R):

ohms

Temperature Coefficient (α):

/°C

Temperature (T):

°C

Voltage Drop (V_drop):

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1. What is Voltage Drop with Temperature Correction?

The voltage drop calculation with temperature correction accounts for how electrical resistance changes with temperature. As temperature increases, most conductors' resistance increases, leading to greater voltage drops in circuits.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the voltage drop equation with temperature correction:

\[ V_{drop} = I \times R \times (1 + \alpha (T - 20)) \]

Where:

\( V_{drop} \) — Voltage drop (volts)
\( I \) — Current flowing through the conductor (amps)
\( R \) — Resistance at 20°C (ohms)
\( \alpha \) — Temperature coefficient of resistance (/°C)
\( T \) — Actual temperature (°C)

Explanation: The equation calculates the basic voltage drop (I×R) then applies a correction factor based on how much the temperature differs from the standard 20°C reference temperature.

3. Importance of Temperature Correction

Details: Temperature correction is crucial for accurate voltage drop calculations in environments with significant temperature variations, such as outdoor installations, high-current applications, or precision circuits.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter current in amps, resistance in ohms at 20°C, temperature coefficient (0.00393/°C for copper), and actual temperature in °C. All values must be valid positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's a typical temperature coefficient for copper?
A: Pure copper has α ≈ 0.00393/°C. This is the default value in the calculator.

Q2: Why is 20°C used as the reference temperature?
A: 20°C is a standard reference temperature for electrical measurements and specifications.

Q3: How does temperature affect different materials?
A: Most conductors increase resistance with temperature (positive α), while some materials like carbon or semiconductors decrease resistance (negative α).

Q4: When is temperature correction most important?
A: For high-precision applications, long cable runs, high-current circuits, or environments with extreme temperature variations.

Q5: Can I use this for AC circuits?
A: This calculates the resistive voltage drop. For AC, you'd also need to consider inductive reactance in addition to temperature-corrected resistance.