Hello Jason,
The correct voltage-drop calculation requires round-trip distance. Two
conductors, each the same gauge and carrying the same current will have equal
voltage drop.
For example:
Conductor # 1
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Power
Source
Load
|
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Conductor # 2
The equivalent resistive circuit:
Resistor # 1
----------------------------/\/\/\/\/\/\------------------------
|
|
Power
Source
Load
|
|
----------------------------/\/\/\/\/\/\------------------------
Resistor # 2
Rather than get into the esoteric terminology (Thevenin's Theorem) .. suffice
to say the total of the voltage dropped across R1 + Load + R2 is equal to the
Power Source voltage, as is easily seen above.
Voltage is applied to the entire circuit. It doesn't flow just "one
way". The same is true of current, which also flows in the entire
loop.
Overall, "power" is generated by the Power Source, and
"consumed" in the Load, which makes us want to think of energy
flowing "one way". Some of the power output by the Power Source
is lost in Resistors #1 and #2. Even so .. the total energy dissipated by
R1 + Load + R2 must equal the energy delivered by the Power Source.
Hope this helps...
Dan
Sr. Engineer
Exeltech
--- On Mon, 12/8/08, Jason Lombard <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
wrote:
From: Jason Lombard
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] voltag drop
To: "RE-wrenches" <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org>
Date: Monday, December 8, 2008, 4:44 PM
Marco,
One way it the appropriate answer, you mostly have voltage only going in that
direction is my thought.
On
Mon, Dec 8, 2008 at 3:12 PM, Marco <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
I feel kinda
foolish in asking this.....but when calculating voltage drop in a conductor
over distance, do I use the one-way or round-trip distance?
thanks,
marco
Marco Mangelsdorf, Ph.D., President
Electrical Contractor License
C-26351
69 Railroad Avenue, Suite A-7
Hilo, Hawaii 96720 USA
(808) 969-3281, fax 934-7462
www.provisiontechnologies.com
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