What Is the Voltage Drop for 3/0 AWG at 49A and 500 Feet?

3/0 AWG copper carrying 49 amps over 500 feet on a single-phase / DC circuit drops 3.75 volts (3.13% on a 120V source). This sits past the 3% target NEC 210.19(A) Informational Note 4 cites for branch circuits, but within the 5% target for feeder+branch total. Which one applies depends on whether this run is a branch circuit, a feeder, or a feeder+branch combined: if it's a branch circuit, it's past target; if it's a feeder alone or part of a feeder+branch combined system, the 5% total is the figure to check against whatever the upstream drop adds. Both are planning targets, not code requirements.

3/0 AWG, 49A, 500ft · single-phase / DC

3.75 V drop (3.13% on 120V)

On 120V circuit3.13%

On 240V circuit1.56%

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

3.75V (3.13%)

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 × 500 × 49 × 0.0766) ÷ 1000 = 3.75 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: (3.75 ÷ 120) × 100 = 3.13%

On 240V: (3.75 ÷ 240) × 100 = 1.56%

How This Estimate Changes with Run Length and Gauge

Gauge That Meets the 3% Target

The smallest gauge in our table that clears the 3% drop target at 49A over 500ft on 120V is 4/0 AWG. Shorter runs, higher source voltage, or a higher drop tolerance (feeder-only applications often accept up to 5%) can change the pick. Run the full wire-size calculator with your actual variables.

Impact of Distance

Voltage drop is proportional to distance. Here is 3/0 AWG at 49A at different distances:

Distance	Drop (V)	% on 120V	% on 240V	NEC (120V)
25ft	0.1877V	0.1564%	0.0782%	OK
50ft	0.3753V	0.3128%	0.1564%	OK
75ft	0.563V	0.4692%	0.2346%	OK
100ft	0.7507V	0.6256%	0.3128%	OK
150ft	1.13V	0.9383%	0.4692%	OK
200ft	1.5V	1.25%	0.6256%	OK
300ft	2.25V	1.88%	0.9383%	OK

Same Run, Different Wire Gauges

How does wire gauge affect voltage drop for 49A at 500 feet on 120V single-phase / DC? Only gauges whose branch-circuit OCP cap is at or above the 49A 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	3.75V	3.13%	1.56%	Caution
4/0 AWG	2.98V	2.48%	1.24%	OK
250 kcmil	2.52V	2.1%	1.05%	OK
300 kcmil	2.1V	1.75%	0.8759%	OK
350 kcmil	1.8V	1.5%	0.7493%	OK
500 kcmil	1.26V	1.05%	0.5267%	OK

Related Calculations

cable Wire size: 49A, 500ft bolt Watts to amps calculator functions Voltage drop formula

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the voltage drop for 3/0 AWG at 49A and 500ft?expand_more

3/0 AWG carrying 49A over 500ft has a 3.75V drop (3.13% on 120V). Reference: 1.56% on 240V.

What happens if voltage drop is too high?expand_more

Motors run hotter and can have trouble starting under load. Incandescent and halogen lighting dims. Some electronics misbehave at the low end of their input tolerance. Energy is wasted as I²R heating in the conductor. These are performance issues; high drop is not itself a code violation unless the specific installation cites a hard limit.

Does 3/0 AWG meet the 3% drop target at 49A and 500ft on 120V?expand_more

On 120V, this run sits at 3.13%, which is past the 3% branch target; within the 5% feeder+branch total. 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.

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.

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 1.56% on 240V versus 3.13% on 120V.

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.