Glossar
Voltage drop
Kurz definiert
The loss of voltage across a cable and its connections. It only occurs when current flows, and on board it is usually the value that determines the required cable cross-section — not heating.
U = (2 × L × I × 0.0175) ÷ A
In der Praxis
The calculation uses twice the cable length, because the current flows there and back. Three percent of the nominal voltage is the planning value — at 12 volts that is 0.36 volts; ten percent is an upper limit for non-critical loads, not a target.
The formula only describes the cable. Contact resistance at terminals, busbars and main switches is not included and can double the measured value. That is why every design needs a check measurement under load.
Verwandte Begriffe
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