Wiring Calculator

Version 1.0.1 6 June 2016

Summary

This is a special purpose calculator which performs simple wiring calculations for copper wires used in low voltage circuits. Given three of the four quantities circuit length, current, wire cross section and voltage drop, the Widget calculates the value of the fourth.

Output Mode

When the Widget is started, it displays a window with four fields. Enter data into the three white fields, then press the RETURN or ENTER key. The Widget computes the other value and displays it in the fourth field. Which of the four values is to be computed can be set by clicking on the Output Mode menu button.

Units

The Widget uses two systems of units, SI Units (metres, amperes, square millimetres and volts) and USA units (feet, amperes, American Wire Gauge and volts). The system of units to be used can be chosen by clicking on the Units menu button.

Temperature

The Temperature menu button can be used to specify the (maximum) operating temperature of the copper wire (not the insulation). This is used to calculate the resistivity of the copper (which increases as temperature increases).

Derating Constant

The Derating Constant menu button can be used to reduce the assumed current-carrying capacity of a wire of specific cross section. This can be used in cases where wires are in bundles or where ambient temperatures are higher than usual. The Widget displays an alert when the Current field contains a higher value than the Wire Cross Section (or AWG) would normally be expected to carry.

WARNING: The calculator was designed to calculate the voltage drop in low voltage (12/24 volt) marine circuits where the voltage drop due to long wire circuits is more often a problem than the current carrying capacity of the wires. No attempt has been made to ensure that the results of any of the Widget's calculations conform to current electrical codes, such as the NEC or IEC codes. Users must check these and other safety matters for themselves.

NOTE: For a normal two-wire circuit with conductors of the same Cross Section (Wire Size), the Circuit Length entered should be twice the length of the path between the power source and the load, to equal the full circuit length.

License

The Wiring Calculator is Copyright © 2010-2016 Harry Whitfield (G6AUC).

This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.

This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details.

You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA

Widget Concept, Coding and Documentation

Harry Whitfield (G6AUC)