Worked Example

Voltage drop calculation — build and observe

Place a source, connect a cable, add a load — and see voltage drop across the cable immediately. Change the cable length or conductor size and watch the impact in real time.

What you get

Instant voltage drop

Voltage drop appears the moment you connect a cable between a source and a load.

Change cable length

Increase cable length and watch voltage drop grow at the load. See the 3%/5% limits in context.

Change conductor size

Upsize the conductor and see voltage drop decrease. Understand the trade-off between cost and drop.

Cumulative path

See total voltage drop from source to load across multiple cable segments and transformers.

Threshold flagging

Cables exceeding your voltage drop limit are flagged visually.

System-wide view

Not one circuit at a time — see voltage drop across your entire system.

Learn voltage drop by interacting with it

Formulas tell you how it works. ekx shows you. Build a circuit, set a cable length, and see the voltage at the load. Then change parameters and watch results update.

  • Build a simple source-cable-load circuit to see basic voltage drop
  • Extend the cable and observe voltage drop increase
  • Upsize the conductor and see improvement
  • Add more circuits to see system-wide voltage drop effects

Start free. Upgrade when you need more.

Free tier includes 1 project with up to 2 buses. Paid plans start at $27/month for consultants and $149/month for unlimited access.

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Frequently asked questions

What's the simplest example?

A utility source, one cable, one load. Set the cable length and conductor size. Voltage drop at the load calculates instantly.

Does it show the voltage drop formula?

ekx shows the results — voltage at each bus and drop across each cable. The calculation uses standard impedance methods consistent with NEC recommendations.

What are the NEC recommended limits?

NEC recommends 3% voltage drop for branch circuits and 5% total from source to load. ekx lets you set your own thresholds.

Can I try this on the free plan?

Yes. A source and load with one cable segment fits within the free tier's 2-bus limit.

See voltage drop calculate before your eyes.

Build a circuit. Set a length. Observe the drop.

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