Calculating voltage drop
In determining which size wire to use, what load do we enter when calculating voltage drop when adding a 50 amp RV site when the electric service is a 240 volt, 50 amp breaker and RVs technically run ...
Forum Discussion
wa8yxm wrote:
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Example.. Let's say the run is long enough you calculate 1 volt drop each way.
So your total drop at max load is 2 volts.
But the max drop on EACH leg is 1 volt
NOTE: you will never hit max load.. It just does not happen as it would require PERFECT balance……….
Not exactly true. It is theoretically possible to pull 50 amps thru leg 1 while simultaneously pulling anything from zero amps to 50 amps on leg 2. Or vice versa. The neutral current would vary accordingly. In which case one leg would have more voltage drop than the other. And if one leg were pulling zero current, all voltage drop would be on the leg actually pulling current. A completely unbalanced load is as unlikely as a perfectly balanced load. Still, the voltage drop will not likely be equally shared.
