What Is the Voltage Drop for 4 AWG at 76A and 75 Feet?

Running 76A through 4 AWG copper for 75 feet on a single-phase / DC circuit produces a 3.51-volt drop. On a 120V source that is 2.93%; on 240V it is 1.46%. 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.

4 AWG, 76A, 75ft · single-phase / DC

3.51 V drop (2.93% on 120V)

On 120V circuit2.93%

On 240V circuit1.46%

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

4 AWG

Amps

Feet

Drop @ 120V

3.51V (2.93%)

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 × 75 × 76 × 0.308) ÷ 1000 = 3.51 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: (3.51 ÷ 120) × 100 = 2.93%

On 240V: (3.51 ÷ 240) × 100 = 1.46%

How This Estimate Changes with Run Length and Gauge

Gauge Check

4 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 4 AWG at 76A at different distances:

Distance	Drop (V)	% on 120V	% on 240V	NEC (120V)
25ft	1.17V	0.9753%	0.4877%	OK
50ft	2.34V	1.95%	0.9753%	OK
75ft	3.51V	2.93%	1.46%	OK
100ft	4.68V	3.9%	1.95%	Caution
150ft	7.02V	5.85%	2.93%	Past 5%
200ft	9.36V	7.8%	3.9%	Past 5%
300ft	14.04V	11.7%	5.85%	Past 5%

Same Run, Different Wire Gauges

How does wire gauge affect voltage drop for 76A at 75 feet on 120V single-phase / DC? Only gauges whose branch-circuit OCP cap is at or above the 76A 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)
4 AWG	3.51V	2.93%	1.46%	OK
3 AWG	2.79V	2.33%	1.16%	OK
2 AWG	2.21V	1.84%	0.9215%	OK
1 AWG	1.76V	1.46%	0.7315%	OK
1/0 AWG	1.39V	1.16%	0.5795%	OK
2/0 AWG	1.1V	0.9186%	0.4593%	OK

Related Calculations

cable Wire size: 76A, 75ft bolt Watts to amps calculator functions Voltage drop formula

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the voltage drop for 4 AWG at 76A and 75ft?expand_more

4 AWG carrying 76A over 75ft has a 3.51V drop (2.93% on 120V). Reference: 1.46% on 240V.

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 1.46% on 240V versus 2.93% on 120V.

What wire gauge should I use instead of 4 AWG for this run?expand_more

4 AWG already sits within the 3% branch-circuit drop target at these inputs (2.93% 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.

Does 4 AWG meet the 3% drop target at 76A and 75ft on 120V?expand_more

On 120V, this run sits at 2.93%, 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.

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.

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.