Voltage drop is the reduction in voltage that occurs as electricity travels through a wire. It's important because excessive voltage drop can cause equipment to malfunction, reduce efficiency, and create safety hazards. Electrical codes typically limit voltage drop to 3-5% for branch circuits.

You can reduce voltage drop by: 1) Using larger wire gauge (lower AWG number), 2) Shortening the circuit length, 3) Reducing the current load, 4) Using copper instead of aluminum conductors, and 5) Using higher voltage systems where practical.

According to the National Electrical Code (NEC), the recommended maximum voltage drop for branch circuits is 3% and for feeder and branch circuits combined is 5%. However, specific applications may have different requirements.

Yes, higher temperatures increase the resistance of conductors, which in turn increases voltage drop. This calculator accounts for temperature by adjusting resistance values based on the temperature you select.

In single-phase systems, the voltage drop is calculated along two conductors (hot and neutral). In three-phase systems, the calculation accounts for the phase-to-phase voltage and typically results in lower voltage drop for the same power transfer due to the √3 factor in the formula.