Skip to content
AmpSize

· 1 min read

Voltage drop on 2.5 mm² over 30 m

Voltage drop calculator

+1 reference

Worked to AS/NZS 3000:2018 and AS/NZS 3008.1.2:2017 (NZ). Tables checked 27 Sept 2026.

Voltage drop

4.7%

Voltage drop
10.81V
Maximum length at limit
31.91m
Voltage drop limit
5%
Open the calculator with these inputs

This result is a design aid. Verify it against the current standard.

A drawn result card from the Voltage Drop tool: voltage drop 4.7 %; checked.

A 20 A load on 2.5 mm² copper cable over 30 m drops 10.81 V, which is 4.7 % of 230 V. That is inside the 5 % limit of AS/NZS 3000:2018 Cl 3.6.2, but close to it.

The case

The circuit is single‑phase, multicore PVC cable, at a power factor of 1. The tool reads the cable's resistance and reactance from AS/NZS 3008.1.2:2017 and works the drop at 18.02 mV/A·m. At that rate the run can reach 31.91 m before it meets the limit.

What changes the answer

A larger cable drops less. 4 mm² over the same 30 m drops 2.93 %, and can run 51.25 m.

The limit covers the whole installation, from the point of supply to the load. A drop in the mains or a submain uses part of the 5 %, so a final subcircuit often has less to spend.

See also: AS/NZS 3000 Clause 3.6.2: voltage drop limit and The 5 % voltage drop limit from supply to load.

Try it with these inputs

Cable insulation
PVC
Cable material
Cu
Cable parallel runs
1
Cable size
2.5 mm²
Cores
Multicore
Design current
20 A
Run length
30 m
Voltage drop limit
5 %
Power factor
1
Phases
Single phase
Supply
a.c.
Voltage
230 V
Open the calculator with these inputs

Where next

The ideas behind it

More worked examples

AmpSize is a design aid. Verify results against the current standard.

Was this useful?

A question, or a value that looks wrong? Contact us.