REUK.co.uk - The Renewable Energy Website

HOME | REUK Shop |  | REUK Blog | Directory | About Us  |  

  • Solar
  • Wind
  • Water
  • Heating
  • Electronics
  • Lighting
  • Shopping
  • Education
  • News
  • Energy Efficiency
  • Electric Circuit
  • General
  • Carbon
  • Storage
  • Biomass
  • Transport
  • Hydro
  • Raspberry Pi
  • Websites
  • Geothermal
  • Wave
  • Tidal
  • Recycling
  • Thermoelectric

Line Losses Calculator




Line Losses Calculator

An automatic calculator to work out line losses in DC powered systems

home > storage | general
   Printer Friendly Version Print Article     

In our article Minimising Line Losses in RE Systems we looked at how the diameter of wire (cable) should be selected to ensure that line losses (i.e. energy lost when the current flowing through a wire heat it up) are kept below 10%.

Using thick cable reduces line losses

If you are interested in understanding the equations which are used to make the calculations below, then we recommend you read the article linked to above.

Wire Size Calculator

Enter the peak charging voltage (volts DC - e.g. 14V to 20V for a 12V rated wind turbine), wire length (metres), peak current (Amps), and maximum acceptable power loss (%, we suggest 10% or lower), and click Calculate to view the minimum cross sectional area of the wire you should use.

Current: Amps, Wire length: metres
Charging Voltage: Volts DC, Power Loss %.

Recommended minimum cross sectional area: mm2 = mm diameter.
To convert the above wire cross sectional area to AWG, mm diameter, or inch diameter, click here to go to our Automated AWG Wire Size Converter. Remember to choose a wire with a slightly larger cross sectional area than that recommended above to ensure that power losses are below your maximum acceptable percentage.

Line Losses Calculator

Alternatively use the calculator below to work out the line losses for a system with a given wire size (diameter measured in mm).

Current: Amps, Wire length: metres
Charging Voltage: Volts DC, Wire diameter mm

Power Loss: %.




Article Last Modified: 22:21, 24th Sep 2014

Comment on this Article

If you have any comments on this article, please email them to neil@reuk.co.uk.


Related Articles and Products

More from the REUK.co.uk website:

Low Voltage Battery Disconnect Circuits
Find out more about low voltage battery disconnect (LVD) circuits - used to protect batteries

Low Voltage Battery Disconnect Circuits

Simple Low Voltage Disconnect with NE555
Make your own simple low voltage disconnect with an NE555 timer

Simple Low Voltage Disconnect with NE555

12 Volt Battery Monitor Circuit with LM3914
Accurately monitor battery voltage with LM3914 LED bar graph driver

12 Volt Battery Monitor Circuit with LM3914

AWG to Square mm Wire Size Converter
Convert between AWG, inches and mm diameter, and square mm area measures of wire size

AWG to Square mm Wire Size Converter

Understanding Batteries
Learn more about all types of batteries - particularly rechargeable batteries

Understanding Batteries

Keep Rechargeable Batteries in Freezer
Find out the easiest way to keep your NiMH and NiCD rechargeable batteries fully charged

Keep Rechargeable Batteries in Freezer

Make a Simple Battery Status Monitor
Monitor battery status with this easy electric circuit project - no skill required!

Make a Simple Battery Status Monitor

Akvaterm Accumulator Tanks
Accumulator Tanks for Water Heating and Storage with Renewable Energy Systems

Akvaterm Accumulator Tanks

Click one of the links below for further articles on the following relevant topics:
storage, general.


© 2006-2020 REUK - All Rights Reserved
Page Last Updated on 2nd July 2025 at 09:15:14am