What Is Voltage Drop Formula: A Simple Explanation

Voltage drop is a critical parameter to consider when designing electrical circuits or planning power distribution systems. It represents the loss of electrical potential or energy that occurs as electric current flows through a conductor due to its inherent resistance. To calculate voltage drop accurately, you can use the following formula:

Voltage Drop (Vd) = (Millivolts per Ampere per Meter) x Length of the Conductor (L) x Current (Ib) / 1000

In this formula, “Millivolts per Ampere per Meter” (mV/A/m) represents the specific resistance of the conductor material. Length (L) is the length of the conductor in meters, and Current (Ib) is the current in amperes flowing through the conductor. By plugging these values into the formula, you can determine the voltage drop, which helps ensure efficient and safe electrical systems by minimizing energy loss over extended distances.

Voltage drop, in the context of electronics, refers to the reduction in electrical potential as electric current traverses a circuit. This phenomenon occurs due to various factors, such as internal resistance within the power source, resistance in the conductors, resistance at electrical contacts, and resistance across connectors. Voltage drop is generally undesirable since it results in the dissipation of a portion of the supplied energy. To clarify, when voltage drops occur in a circuit, some of the electrical energy is lost as heat rather than being efficiently utilized for the intended purpose, which can impact the performance of electronic devices and systems.