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· 1 min read

What size cable for a lighting circuit in NZ?

Cable size calculator

+2 references

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

Conductor size

1.5mm²

Derated capacity
16A
Voltage drop
4.3%
Earth conductor
1.5mm²
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This result is a design aid. Verify it against the current standard.

A drawn result card from the Cable Size tool: conductor size 1.5 mm²; voltage drop checked.

A lighting circuit on a 10 A breaker in New Zealand takes 1.5 mm² copper cable on a typical route. For 30 m of multicore PVC cable enclosed in air at 30 °C, the tool gives 16 A of derated capacity and a voltage drop of 4.3 %.

The case

The circuit is single‑phase at 230 V. The design current is the full 10 A of the curve C breaker. The voltage drop limit is 5 % and Ze is 0.35 Ω. Table 5.1 gives a 1.5 mm² earth, and the earth fault loop impedance is 1.34 Ω.

Voltage drop is the check closest to its limit. A longer run reaches the limit before the cable runs out of capacity.

What changes the answer

A 16 A lighting circuit on the same route takes 2.5 mm² with a drop of 3.76 %.

See also: How far can 1.5 mm² run on a 10 A circuit? and Voltage drop basics.

Try it with these inputs

Ambient temperature
30 °C
Cores
Multicore
Device curve
Curve C
Check protective device
Yes
Grouped circuits
1
Insulation
PVC 75 °C
Run length
30 m
Design current
10 A
Material
Copper
Installation method
Enclosed in air
Power factor
1
Phases
Single phase
Device rating
10 A
Voltage drop limit
5 %
Voltage
230 V
External impedance Ze
0.35 Ω
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