5 Amp Wire Size at 175 Feet (120V Single-Phase (US Standard Branch))
Complete conductor sizing, Ohm's law voltage drop, $I^2R$ line power loss, and circuit breaker specification for a 5 A load over a 175 ft (53.3 m) one-way run.
Copper Wire (≤3% Drop)12 AWG3.31 mm² · Drop: 2.87%
Aluminum Wire (≤3% Drop)10 AWGDrop: 3.58V (2.98%)
Voltage at Load End116.6 VLoss: 3.45 V (17.2 W)
Power & Breaker (125%)0.6 kW10A Breaker Recommended
All AWG & kcmil Wire Gauges for 5 Amps at 175 Feet (120V)
| 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 | 5.49 V (4.57%) | 114.5 V | 9.05 V (7.54%) | 27.4 W | ~ ≤5% |
| 12 AWG | 3.31 mm² | 20 A | 3.45 V (2.87%) | 116.6 V | 5.69 V (4.74%) | 17.2 W | ✓ PASS (≤3%) |
| 10 AWG | 5.26 mm² | 30 A | 2.17 V (1.81%) | 117.8 V | 3.58 V (2.98%) | 10.9 W | ✓ PASS (≤3%) |
| 8 AWG | 8.37 mm² | 50 A | 1.36 V (1.14%) | 118.6 V | 2.25 V (1.87%) | 6.8 W | ✓ PASS (≤3%) |
| 6 AWG | 13.3 mm² | 65 A | 0.86 V (0.72%) | 119.1 V | 1.42 V (1.18%) | 4.3 W | ✓ PASS (≤3%) |
| 4 AWG | 21.15 mm² | 85 A | 0.54 V (0.45%) | 119.5 V | 0.89 V (0.74%) | 2.7 W | ✓ PASS (≤3%) |
| 3 AWG | 26.67 mm² | 100 A | 0.43 V (0.36%) | 119.6 V | 0.71 V (0.59%) | 2.1 W | ✓ PASS (≤3%) |
| 2 AWG | 33.62 mm² | 115 A | 0.34 V (0.28%) | 119.7 V | 0.56 V (0.47%) | 1.7 W | ✓ PASS (≤3%) |
| 1 AWG | 42.41 mm² | 130 A | 0.27 V (0.22%) | 119.7 V | 0.44 V (0.37%) | 1.3 W | ✓ PASS (≤3%) |
| 1/0 AWG | 53.49 mm² | 150 A | 0.21 V (0.18%) | 119.8 V | 0.35 V (0.29%) | 1.1 W | ✓ PASS (≤3%) |
| 2/0 AWG | 67.43 mm² | 175 A | 0.17 V (0.14%) | 119.8 V | 0.28 V (0.23%) | 0.8 W | ✓ PASS (≤3%) |
| 3/0 AWG | 85.01 mm² | 200 A | 0.13 V (0.11%) | 119.9 V | 0.22 V (0.18%) | 0.7 W | ✓ PASS (≤3%) |
| 4/0 AWG | 107.2 mm² | 230 A | 0.11 V (0.09%) | 119.9 V | 0.18 V (0.15%) | 0.5 W | ✓ PASS (≤3%) |
| 250 kcmil | 126.7 mm² | 255 A | 0.09 V (0.08%) | 119.9 V | 0.15 V (0.12%) | 0.5 W | ✓ PASS (≤3%) |
| 300 kcmil | 152.0 mm² | 285 A | 0.08 V (0.06%) | 119.9 V | 0.12 V (0.1%) | 0.4 W | ✓ PASS (≤3%) |
| 350 kcmil | 177.3 mm² | 310 A | 0.06 V (0.05%) | 119.9 V | 0.11 V (0.09%) | 0.3 W | ✓ PASS (≤3%) |
| 400 kcmil | 202.7 mm² | 335 A | 0.06 V (0.05%) | 119.9 V | 0.09 V (0.08%) | 0.3 W | ✓ PASS (≤3%) |
| 500 kcmil | 253.4 mm² | 380 A | 0.05 V (0.04%) | 120.0 V | 0.07 V (0.06%) | 0.2 W | ✓ PASS (≤3%) |
| 600 kcmil | 304.0 mm² | 420 A | 0.04 V (0.03%) | 120.0 V | 0.06 V (0.05%) | 0.2 W | ✓ PASS (≤3%) |
| 750 kcmil | 380.0 mm² | 475 A | 0.03 V (0.03%) | 120.0 V | 0.05 V (0.04%) | 0.2 W | ✓ PASS (≤3%) |
| 1000 kcmil | 506.7 mm² | 545 A | 0.02 V (0.02%) | 120.0 V | 0.04 V (0.03%) | 0.1 W | ✓ PASS (≤3%) |
Frequently Asked Engineering Questions
What size copper wire do I need for 5 amps at 175 feet (120V)?
To stay within the NEC recommended 3% maximum voltage drop for a 5A load over 175 feet one-way at 120V (1-Phase), you need 12 AWG copper wire. This produces a voltage drop of 3.45V (2.87%) and delivers 116.6V at the load.
What size aluminum wire is required for 5 amps at 175 feet?
Using aluminum conductors (75°C rating), you should use 10 AWG to maintain voltage drop at 3.58V (2.98%).
What breaker size is needed for a 5A continuous load?
Under NEC 210.20(A), continuous loads require a circuit breaker rated at 125% of the continuous current (5A × 1.25 = 6.2A), which corresponds to a standard 10A circuit breaker.
Compare Other Distances & Amperages
5 Amp Wire Size by Distance (120V)
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