225 Amp Wire Size at 30 Feet (12V DC (Solar / Automotive / Marine))
Complete conductor sizing, Ohm's law voltage drop, $I^2R$ line power loss, and circuit breaker specification for a 225 A load over a 30 ft (9.1 m) one-way run.
Copper Wire (≤3% Drop)500 kcmil253.4 mm² · Drop: 2.9%
Aluminum Wire (≤3% Drop)1000 kcmilDrop: 0.29V (2.39%)
Voltage at Load End11.7 VLoss: 0.35 V (78.2 W)
Power & Breaker (125%)2.7 kW300A Breaker Recommended
All AWG & kcmil Wire Gauges for 225 Amps at 30 Feet (12V)
| Wire Gauge | Metric Area | NEC 75°C Cu Ampacity | Copper Voltage Drop | Load Voltage | Aluminum Drop | Line Loss ($I^2R$) | NEC Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 AWG | 2.08 mm² | 15 A | 42.33 V (352.79%) | 0.0 V | 69.83 V (581.94%) | 9525.4 W | Drop/Amp High |
| 12 AWG | 3.31 mm² | 20 A | 26.6 V (221.69%) | 0.0 V | 43.88 V (365.69%) | 5985.7 W | Drop/Amp High |
| 10 AWG | 5.26 mm² | 30 A | 16.74 V (139.51%) | 0.0 V | 27.61 V (230.12%) | 3766.7 W | Drop/Amp High |
| 8 AWG | 8.37 mm² | 50 A | 10.52 V (87.67%) | 1.5 V | 17.35 V (144.62%) | 2367.1 W | Drop/Amp High |
| 6 AWG | 13.3 mm² | 65 A | 6.62 V (55.17%) | 5.4 V | 10.92 V (91.01%) | 1489.7 W | Drop/Amp High |
| 4 AWG | 21.15 mm² | 85 A | 4.16 V (34.7%) | 7.8 V | 6.87 V (57.23%) | 936.8 W | Drop/Amp High |
| 3 AWG | 26.67 mm² | 100 A | 3.3 V (27.51%) | 8.7 V | 5.45 V (45.39%) | 742.9 W | Drop/Amp High |
| 2 AWG | 33.62 mm² | 115 A | 2.62 V (21.83%) | 9.4 V | 4.32 V (36.0%) | 589.3 W | Drop/Amp High |
| 1 AWG | 42.41 mm² | 130 A | 2.08 V (17.3%) | 9.9 V | 3.42 V (28.54%) | 467.2 W | Drop/Amp High |
| 1/0 AWG | 53.49 mm² | 150 A | 1.65 V (13.72%) | 10.4 V | 2.72 V (22.63%) | 370.4 W | Drop/Amp High |
| 2/0 AWG | 67.43 mm² | 175 A | 1.31 V (10.88%) | 10.7 V | 2.15 V (17.95%) | 293.8 W | Drop/Amp High |
| 3/0 AWG | 85.01 mm² | 200 A | 1.04 V (8.63%) | 11.0 V | 1.71 V (14.24%) | 233.1 W | Drop/Amp High |
| 4/0 AWG | 107.2 mm² | 230 A | 0.82 V (6.85%) | 11.2 V | 1.35 V (11.29%) | 184.8 W | Drop/Amp High |
| 250 kcmil | 126.7 mm² | 255 A | 0.7 V (5.79%) | 11.3 V | 1.15 V (9.55%) | 156.4 W | Drop/Amp High |
| 300 kcmil | 152.0 mm² | 285 A | 0.58 V (4.83%) | 11.4 V | 0.96 V (7.96%) | 130.3 W | ~ ≤5% |
| 350 kcmil | 177.3 mm² | 310 A | 0.5 V (4.14%) | 11.5 V | 0.82 V (6.83%) | 111.7 W | ~ ≤5% |
| 400 kcmil | 202.7 mm² | 335 A | 0.43 V (3.62%) | 11.6 V | 0.72 V (5.97%) | 97.7 W | ~ ≤5% |
| 500 kcmil | 253.4 mm² | 380 A | 0.35 V (2.9%) | 11.7 V | 0.57 V (4.78%) | 78.2 W | ✓ PASS (≤3%) |
| 600 kcmil | 304.0 mm² | 420 A | 0.29 V (2.41%) | 11.7 V | 0.48 V (3.98%) | 65.2 W | ✓ PASS (≤3%) |
| 750 kcmil | 380.0 mm² | 475 A | 0.23 V (1.93%) | 11.8 V | 0.38 V (3.19%) | 52.1 W | ✓ PASS (≤3%) |
| 1000 kcmil | 506.7 mm² | 545 A | 0.17 V (1.45%) | 11.8 V | 0.29 V (2.39%) | 39.1 W | ✓ PASS (≤3%) |
Frequently Asked Engineering Questions
What size copper wire do I need for 225 amps at 30 feet (12V)?
To stay within the NEC recommended 3% maximum voltage drop for a 225A load over 30 feet one-way at 12V (DC), you need 500 kcmil copper wire. This produces a voltage drop of 0.35V (2.9%) and delivers 11.7V at the load.
What size aluminum wire is required for 225 amps at 30 feet?
Using aluminum conductors (75°C rating), you should use 1000 kcmil to maintain voltage drop at 0.29V (2.39%).
What breaker size is needed for a 225A continuous load?
Under NEC 210.20(A), continuous loads require a circuit breaker rated at 125% of the continuous current (225A × 1.25 = 281.2A), which corresponds to a standard 300A circuit breaker.
Compare Other Distances & Amperages
225 Amp Wire Size by Distance (12V)
225A at 20 ft (12V)225A at 40 ft (12V)225A at 50 ft (12V)225A at 60 ft (12V)225A at 75 ft (12V)225A at 80 ft (12V)225A at 100 ft (12V)225A at 120 ft (12V)225A at 125 ft (12V)225A at 150 ft (12V)225A at 175 ft (12V)