For a 14.44-amp circuit running 500 feet on 120V, 3 AWG copper is the smallest gauge in our table that both stays within the 3% drop target and covers the branch-circuit OCP cap for 14.44A. A shorter run of 250 feet at the same voltage often allows 6 AWG. Treat this as an estimate, not an install spec.
14.44A at 500ft · 120V single-phase / DC · 3% drop target
3 AWG copper
On a 240V circuit (copper)6 AWG
Voltage drop (120V, copper)3.54V (2.95%)
No aluminum row: every aluminum size in our reference table sits past the 3% drop target at 500 feet on 120V, or the amperage is below the 30A residential threshold where aluminum is not a typical pick. On a higher source voltage, a shorter run, or a looser drop target, aluminum is still the standard feeder material at higher amperages.
Use this citation when referencing this page.
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Within the 3% branch and 5% feeder+branch total drop targets
Assumes a 120V source on a single-phase / DC circuit and a 3% voltage-drop target. Each material is picked independently against the same target, so the copper and aluminum results are two separate recommendations, not an ampacity equivalence. Switch to three-phase L-L →
How Wire Size Is Determined
Step 1: NEC Branch-Circuit Ampacity
3 AWG branch-circuit OCP (100A) ≥ 14.44A ✓
The conductor needs to carry at least 14.44A without going past its temperature rating, and the OCP protecting it needs to respect the NEC branch-circuit cap. Under the typical assumptions used in this table (copper, 75°C termination, no bundling or ambient derates), 3 AWG sits at a branch-circuit OCP of 100A. That is not a universal number: NM-B cable (Romex) follows the 60°C column in residential use per NEC 334.80 (3 AWG NM-B = 85A), bundling more than three current-carrying conductors requires a 310.15(C)(1) adjustment, ambient temperatures above 30°C require a 310.15(B) correction, and 60°C terminations on typical residential equipment can pull the usable value lower still. Use the nameplate and local code for the actual install value.
Step 2: Voltage Drop Check
%VD = (2 × L × I × R) ÷ (1000 × V) × 100 (single-phase / DC; round-trip factor of 2)
NEC 210.19(A) Informational Note 4 recommends ≤ 3% for branch circuits and ≤ 5% for feeder + branch total as performance targets, not hard code requirements. This run sits within the 3% target used for this calculation.
Practical Information
What If You Go One Size Smaller?
Using 4 AWG (one size thinner) at these inputs gives a voltage drop of 4.45V (3.71% on 120V), and its branch-circuit OCP cap under typical conditions is 85A.
Limiting factor here: voltage drop, not ampacity. 4 AWG is still above the 14.44A load at its 85A branch-circuit OCP cap, so the conductor temperature margin is fine for this run. What pushes it off this page's pick is the 3.71% drop sitting past the 3% target, which is a performance recommendation (NEC 210.19(A) Informational Note 4), not a code requirement. On shorter runs or at higher source voltage the same gauge would often clear the drop target too.
What If You Go One Size Larger?
Using 2 AWG (one size thicker) would reduce voltage drop to 2.8V (2.33% on 120V). More expensive wire but better performance and more headroom for future load increases.
Wattage at This Amperage
14.44A at 120V delivers 1,732.8 watts (DC / resistive load). See conversion.
14.44A at 500ft on 120V is commonly served by 3 AWG copper to land under the 3% voltage-drop target, under the typical 75°C-termination assumptions used in this table. Actual install sizing also depends on conductor material, insulation and termination temperature rating, cable type, ambient and bundling conditions, and local code.
NEC 210.19(A) Informational Note 4 recommends ≤3% for branch circuits and ≤5% total (feeder + branch). These are performance recommendations, not hard code requirements.
It depends on which factor the thinner gauge violates. If its branch-circuit ampacity is still at or above the load, the limiting factor is usually voltage drop (a performance recommendation per NEC 210.19(A) Informational Note 4, not a hard code requirement) and the symptom is dimming lights, motor startup issues, or wasted energy as I²R losses. If the thinner gauge is actually below the load's ampacity ceiling at the relevant termination temperature, that is a conductor-heating / code compliance issue, and the wire should not be used for that load. A calculator page cannot tell you which category applies to your install: verify against the conductor type, termination temperature, and install conditions.
Voltage drop scales linearly with distance: doubling the one-way run length doubles the drop in volts. At 14.44A on 120V, a 500ft run is often served by 3 AWG to land under the 3% drop target, a run half that length can sometimes use one gauge thinner, and a run double that length usually needs one or two gauges thicker. Ampacity is set by the conductor itself (Table 310.16 at the applicable termination temperature), so the binding constraint is ampacity on short runs and voltage drop on long runs.
Copper and aluminum are picked independently against the same drop target on this site; neither pick implies ampacity equivalence with the other. At 14.44A residential branch-circuit territory, copper is the default. Aluminum in 14/12/10 AWG is not typical for residential branches, both for code reasons (the NEC 240.4(D) small-conductor rule caps aluminum branch OCP tighter than copper) and because termination and anti-oxidation requirements add cost at that scale.
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.
