What is the maximum current for a load on a 230-volt branch circuit supplied by 4 AWG copper conductors and a voltage drop of 4.6 volts?

To determine the maximum current for a load on a 230-volt branch circuit using 4 AWG copper conductors with a voltage drop of 4.6 volts, you can use the formula related to voltage drop:

[ I = \frac{V_d}{R_{conductor}} ]

Where:

• ( I ) is the current in amperes (A),

• ( V_d ) is the voltage drop (4.6 volts),

• ( R_{conductor} ) is the resistance of the conductors per 1000 feet.

For 4 AWG copper conductors, the resistance is approximately 0.2485 ohms per 1000 feet. This allows you to calculate the allowable current:

First, you want to find out how much current corresponds to the given voltage drop of 4.6 volts. The voltage drop can be viewed in relation to the resistance per length of wire as follows:

[ I = \frac{V_d}{0.2485} ]

Plugging in 4.6 volts for ( V_d ):

[ I = \frac{4.6}{0.2485} ]

Calculating this gives:

[ I \approx 18.