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Wire Loss Tables

All of the tables below assume a loss of 3%

In all of the tables below the "Red" rows indicate wire size, the "Blue" columns indicate amps, the "Green" columns are for watts, and the "Gray" boxes are distance in feet. To determine the correct wire size you must know the one way distance and the current (amps or watts).

Example: You want to transmit 16 amps at 12 volts a distance of 180'. Using the 12 volt wire loss table, find 16 amps in the far Left (Blue) column.  Draw an imaginary line to the right until you come to 180. Then draw an imaginary line straight up and you will see a "Red" box with 4/0 AWG in it. This example is shown in "White" in the 12 volt wire loss table. So to transmit 16 amps @ 12 volts a distance of 180' you will need two 4/0 AWG conductors (1 positive and 1 Negative) 180 feet long.

12 Volt Wire Loss Table

24 Volt Wire Loss Table

48 Volt Wire Loss Table

120 Volt Table

12 Volt Wire Loss Table

12 Volt

Wire Size

14 AWG

12 AWG

10 AWG

8 AWG

6 AWG

4 AWG

3 AWG

2 AWG

1 AWG

1/0 AWG

2/0 AWG

3/0 AWG

4/0 AWG 

Amps

Watts

 

0.5

6

110

175

279

445

706

1121

1417

1791

2250

2834

3564

4517

5750

1

12

55

88

139

222

353

561

708

895

1125

1417

1782

2258

2875

2

24

27

44

70

111

176

280

354

447

562

708

891

1129

1437

10

120

9

14

22

27

35

56

70

89.5

112

141

178

225

287

16

192

 

5.5

8.7

14

22

35

44.3

56

70

88

111

141

180

20

240

4.4

7

11

17

28

35

44.8

62

70.8

89

113

143

30

360

 

 

4.6

7.5

11.5

18.7

23

29.8

37

47

59

75

95

40

480

5.5

8.8

14

17.7

22.4

28

35

44.5

56

72

50

600

 

 

 

 

7

11.2

14

18

22.5

28

35

45

57

60

720

9

11.8

15

18

23

30

37

48

100

1200

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11

14

17.8

22.6

28

130

1560

13.7

17

22

150

1800

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15

19

170

2040

17

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24 Volt Wire Loss Table

24 Volt

Wire Size

14

12

10

8

6

4

3

2

1

1/0

2/0

3/0

4/0

Amps

Watts

 

0.5

12

221

351

558

890

1412

2243

2834

3582

4500

5669

7128

9034

11501

1

24

110

175

279

445

706

1122

1417

1791

2250

2834

3564

4517

5751

2

48

55

88

139

222

353

561

709

895

1125

1417

1782

2258

2875

10

240

11

17

28

44

70.6

112

141

179

225

283

356

452

575.1

16

384

 

11

17

28

44.1

70.1

88

112

140

177

223

282

359.4

20

480

9

14

22

35.3

56.1

70.9

89.6

122

141

178

226

287.5

30

720

 

 

9.3

15

23.5

37.4

47.2

59.7

75

94.5

118

150

191.7

40

960

11

17.6

28

35.4

44.8

56.2

70.9

89.1

113

143.8

50

1200

 

 

 

 

14.1

22.4

28.3

35.8

45

56.7

71.3

90.3

115

60

1440

18.7

23.6

29.9

37.5

47.2

59.4

75.3

95.8

100

2400

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

22.5

28.3

35.6

45.2

57.5

130

3120

27.4

34.7

44.2

150

3600

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

30.1

38.3

170

4080

33.8

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48 Volt Wire Loss Table

48 Volt

Wire Size

14

12

10

8

6

4

3

2

1

1/0

2/0

3/0

4/0

Amps

Watts

 

0.5

24

442

702

1116

1780

2824

4486

5668

7164

9000

11338

14256

18068

23002

1

48

223

351

558

890

1412

2244

2834

3582

4500

5668

7128

9034

11502

2

96

110

175

279

445

706

1121

1417

1791

2250

2834

3564

4516

5750

10

480

22

35

56

109

141

224

283

358

450

567

712.8

904

1150

16

768

 

22

34.8

55.6

88

140

177

223

281

354

445.6

564

718.8

20

960

17

28

44.4

70.6

112

142

179

245

283

356

452

575

30

1440

 

 

18.6

29.6

47

74.8

94.4

113

150

189

236.4

300

383.4

40

1920

22.2

35.2

56

70.8

89

112

142

178.2

226

287.6

50

2400

 

 

 

 

28.2

44.8

56.6

71

90

113

142.6

180.6

230

60

2880

37.4

47.2

60

75

94.4

118.8

150.6

191.6

100

4800

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

45

56.6

71.2

90.4

115

130

6240

27.4

34.7

44.2

150

7200

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

30.1

38.3

170

8160

33.8

Back to Top

120 Volt Wire Loss Table

120 Volt

Wire Size

14

12

10

8

6

4

2

1/0

2/0

3/0

Amps

Watts

 

2

240

422

656

 

4

480

187

328

516

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6

720

141

225

328

562

 

8

960

103

159

272

422

665

 

 

 

 

 

10

1200

84

131

216

337

534

 

15

1800

56

84

131

225

356

74.8

562

 

 

 

20

2400

65

103

118

272

422

675

25

3000

 

 

84

131

216

337

543

 

 

 

30

3600

65

112

178

281

450

722

40

4800

 

 

 

84

131

216

337

543

675

 

50

6000

103

171

272

431

543

684

60

7200

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Northwest Energy Storage

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Date and time of last update: Monday, July 26, 2004 10:20 AM

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