For a 4.95-amp circuit running 75 feet on 120V, 14 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 4.95A. A shorter run of 37.5 feet at the same voltage often allows 14 AWG. Treat this as an estimate, not an install spec.
4.95A at 75ft · 120V single-phase / DC · 3% drop target
14 AWG copper
On a 240V circuit (copper)14 AWG
Voltage drop (120V, copper)2.33V (1.94%)
No aluminum row: every aluminum size in our reference table sits past the 3% drop target at 75 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
14 AWG branch-circuit OCP (15A under NEC 240.4(D)) ≥ 4.95A ✓
The conductor needs to carry at least 4.95A 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), 14 AWG sits at a branch-circuit OCP of 15A because the NEC 240.4(D) small-conductor rule caps it below the 20A 75°C ampacity table value. That is not a universal number: NM-B cable (Romex) follows the 60°C column in residential use per NEC 334.80 (14 AWG NM-B = 15A), 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?
The recommended gauge is already the smallest suitable option in our table.
What If You Go One Size Larger?
Using 12 AWG (one size thicker) would reduce voltage drop to 1.47V (1.23% on 120V). More expensive wire but better performance and more headroom for future load increases.
Wattage at This Amperage
4.95A at 120V delivers 594 watts (DC / resistive load). See conversion.
4.95A at 75ft on 120V is commonly served by 14 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.
Copper and aluminum are picked independently against the same drop target on this site; neither pick implies ampacity equivalence with the other. At 4.95A 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.
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.
Voltage drop scales linearly with distance: doubling the one-way run length doubles the drop in volts. At 4.95A on 120V, a 75ft run is often served by 14 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.
NEC 210.19(A) (branch circuits) and 215.3 (feeders) size the conductor and overcurrent device at not less than 125% of the continuous load plus 100% of any non-continuous load. For a 4.95A continuous load that points the sizing math at the 6.19A figure, but the actual conductor and breaker pick still depends on termination temperature rating, cable type, bundling and ambient conditions, and any 240.4(D) or 240.4(B) provisions. Treat this as the input to a sizing decision, not the output.
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.
