What Is the Voltage Drop for 3/0 AWG at 117A and 25 Feet?

Running 117A through 3/0 AWG copper for 25 feet on a single-phase / DC circuit produces a 0.4481-volt drop. On a 120V source that is 0.3734%; on 240V it is 0.1867%. NEC 210.19(A) Informational Note 4 recommends keeping branch-circuit drop at or below 3% and total feeder+branch drop at or below 5%, these are performance recommendations, not code requirements.

3/0 AWG, 117A, 25ft · single-phase / DC

0.4481 V drop (0.3734% on 120V)

On 120V circuit0.3734%

On 240V circuit0.1867%

Circuit basis: This uses the single-phase / DC round-trip formula (factor of 2) for the voltage drop across the two circuit conductors. For a three-phase line-to-line run use the three-phase version of the page (append ?type=3ph). Switch to the three-phase version →

Gauge

3/0 AWG

Amps

Feet

Drop @ 120V

0.45V (0.37%)

Assumes a 120V source on a single-phase / DC circuit. Use the circuit-basis link above to switch between single-phase/DC and three-phase.

Voltage Drop Formula (single-phase / DC)

V_drop = (2 × L × I × R) ÷ 1000

(2 × 25 × 117 × 0.0766) ÷ 1000 = 0.4481 V

DC and single-phase AC use the round-trip factor of 2. Current travels out to the load on one conductor and returns on another.

For a three-phase circuit at the same amps and distance, see the three-phase version (uses √3 instead of 2, so the drop is about 13.4% lower).

Percentage

%VD = (V_drop ÷ V_source) × 100

On 120V: (0.4481 ÷ 120) × 100 = 0.3734%

On 240V: (0.4481 ÷ 240) × 100 = 0.1867%

How This Estimate Changes with Run Length and Gauge

Gauge Check

3/0 AWG clears the 3% drop target at these inputs. A smaller conductor may also meet it with less margin. See the minimum gauge for this load and distance.

Impact of Distance

Voltage drop is proportional to distance. Here is 3/0 AWG at 117A at different distances:

Distance	Drop (V)	% on 120V	% on 240V	NEC (120V)
25ft	0.4481V	0.3734%	0.1867%	OK
50ft	0.8962V	0.7469%	0.3734%	OK
75ft	1.34V	1.12%	0.5601%	OK
100ft	1.79V	1.49%	0.7469%	OK
150ft	2.69V	2.24%	1.12%	OK
200ft	3.58V	2.99%	1.49%	OK
300ft	5.38V	4.48%	2.24%	Caution

Same Run, Different Wire Gauges

How does wire gauge affect voltage drop for 117A at 25 feet on 120V single-phase / DC? Only gauges whose branch-circuit OCP cap is at or above the 117A load are listed, since thinner gauges would fail the ampacity check before drop even matters.

Gauge	Drop (V)	% on 120V	% on 240V	3% Target (120V)
3/0 AWG	0.4481V	0.3734%	0.1867%	OK
4/0 AWG	0.3557V	0.2964%	0.1482%	OK
250 kcmil	0.3013V	0.2511%	0.1255%	OK
300 kcmil	0.251V	0.2091%	0.1046%	OK
350 kcmil	0.2147V	0.1789%	0.0895%	OK
500 kcmil	0.1509V	0.1258%	0.0629%	OK

Related Calculations

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the voltage drop for 3/0 AWG at 117A and 25ft?expand_more

3/0 AWG carrying 117A over 25ft has a 0.4481V drop (0.3734% on 120V). Reference: 0.1867% on 240V.

Why does distance affect voltage drop?expand_more

Voltage drop is proportional to distance. The formula multiplies by 2 × the distance (out and back). Doubling the run doubles the drop.

Does 3/0 AWG meet the 3% drop target at 117A and 25ft on 120V?expand_more

On 120V, this run sits at 0.3734%, which is within the 3% branch and 5% feeder+branch total drop targets. NEC 210.19(A) Informational Note 4 cites 3% for branch circuits and 5% for total feeder+branch drop as performance recommendations, not hard code requirements.

Is voltage drop worse on 120V or 240V?expand_more

Same wire, same amps, same distance: the volts dropped are identical. But the percentage is worse on 120V because the drop is a larger fraction of the source voltage. This run would be 0.1867% on 240V versus 0.3734% on 120V.

What wire gauge should I use instead of 3/0 AWG for this run?expand_more

3/0 AWG already sits within the 3% branch-circuit drop target at these inputs (0.3734% on 120V). Going to a larger gauge is only useful if you want more headroom for future load growth, longer runs, or tighter drop targets like the 5% feeder+branch total recommendation used in sensitive or motor-heavy installations.

This calculator provides estimates for reference purposes only. Always consult a licensed electrician and verify compliance with the National Electrical Code (NEC) and local electrical codes before performing any electrical work.