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🇺🇸 NEC NFPA 70 · Table 310.16 (75°C) · Voltage Drop Analysis

30 Amp Wire Size at 75 Feet (240V Split-Phase (US Dryer / EV / Subpanel))

Complete conductor sizing, Ohm's law voltage drop, $I^2R$ line power loss, and circuit breaker specification for a 30 A load over a 75 ft (22.9 m) one-way run.

Copper Wire (≤3% Drop)10 AWG5.26 mm² · Drop: 2.33%
Aluminum Wire (≤3% Drop)8 AWGDrop: 5.78V (2.41%)
Voltage at Load End234.4 VLoss: 5.58 V (167.4 W)
Power & Breaker (125%)7.2 kW40A Breaker Recommended

All AWG & kcmil Wire Gauges for 30 Amps at 75 Feet (240V)

Wire GaugeMetric AreaNEC 75°C Cu Ampacity Copper Voltage DropLoad VoltageAluminum DropLine Loss ($I^2R$)NEC Status
14 AWG2.08 mm²15 A14.11 V (5.88%)225.9 V23.28 V (9.7%)423.3 WDrop/Amp High
12 AWG3.31 mm²20 A8.87 V (3.69%)231.1 V14.63 V (6.09%)266.0 WDrop/Amp High
10 AWG5.26 mm²30 A5.58 V (2.33%)234.4 V9.2 V (3.84%)167.4 W✓ PASS (≤3%)
8 AWG8.37 mm²50 A3.51 V (1.46%)236.5 V5.78 V (2.41%)105.2 W✓ PASS (≤3%)
6 AWG13.3 mm²65 A2.21 V (0.92%)237.8 V3.64 V (1.52%)66.2 W✓ PASS (≤3%)
4 AWG21.15 mm²85 A1.39 V (0.58%)238.6 V2.29 V (0.95%)41.6 W✓ PASS (≤3%)
3 AWG26.67 mm²100 A1.1 V (0.46%)238.9 V1.82 V (0.76%)33.0 W✓ PASS (≤3%)
2 AWG33.62 mm²115 A0.87 V (0.36%)239.1 V1.44 V (0.6%)26.2 W✓ PASS (≤3%)
1 AWG42.41 mm²130 A0.69 V (0.29%)239.3 V1.14 V (0.48%)20.8 W✓ PASS (≤3%)
1/0 AWG53.49 mm²150 A0.55 V (0.23%)239.5 V0.91 V (0.38%)16.5 W✓ PASS (≤3%)
2/0 AWG67.43 mm²175 A0.44 V (0.18%)239.6 V0.72 V (0.3%)13.1 W✓ PASS (≤3%)
3/0 AWG85.01 mm²200 A0.35 V (0.14%)239.7 V0.57 V (0.24%)10.4 W✓ PASS (≤3%)
4/0 AWG107.2 mm²230 A0.27 V (0.11%)239.7 V0.45 V (0.19%)8.2 W✓ PASS (≤3%)
250 kcmil126.7 mm²255 A0.23 V (0.1%)239.8 V0.38 V (0.16%)7.0 W✓ PASS (≤3%)
300 kcmil152.0 mm²285 A0.19 V (0.08%)239.8 V0.32 V (0.13%)5.8 W✓ PASS (≤3%)
350 kcmil177.3 mm²310 A0.17 V (0.07%)239.8 V0.27 V (0.11%)5.0 W✓ PASS (≤3%)
400 kcmil202.7 mm²335 A0.14 V (0.06%)239.9 V0.24 V (0.1%)4.3 W✓ PASS (≤3%)
500 kcmil253.4 mm²380 A0.12 V (0.05%)239.9 V0.19 V (0.08%)3.5 W✓ PASS (≤3%)
600 kcmil304.0 mm²420 A0.1 V (0.04%)239.9 V0.16 V (0.07%)2.9 W✓ PASS (≤3%)
750 kcmil380.0 mm²475 A0.08 V (0.03%)239.9 V0.13 V (0.05%)2.3 W✓ PASS (≤3%)
1000 kcmil506.7 mm²545 A0.06 V (0.02%)239.9 V0.1 V (0.04%)1.7 W✓ PASS (≤3%)

Frequently Asked Engineering Questions

What size copper wire do I need for 30 amps at 75 feet (240V)?

To stay within the NEC recommended 3% maximum voltage drop for a 30A load over 75 feet one-way at 240V (1-Phase), you need 10 AWG copper wire. This produces a voltage drop of 5.58V (2.33%) and delivers 234.4V at the load.

What size aluminum wire is required for 30 amps at 75 feet?

Using aluminum conductors (75°C rating), you should use 8 AWG to maintain voltage drop at 5.78V (2.41%).

What breaker size is needed for a 30A continuous load?

Under NEC 210.20(A), continuous loads require a circuit breaker rated at 125% of the continuous current (30A × 1.25 = 37.5A), which corresponds to a standard 40A circuit breaker.