Calculate total voltage drop across an automotive circuit including connectors, switches, and wire to diagnose electrical issues.
Input Parameters
Results
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Total Voltage Drop
V
--
Voltage at Load
V
--
Circuit Efficiency
%
--
Power Loss
W
Note: Max acceptable voltage drop: 0.5V per circuit. Corroded connectors can have 50-200 mΩ resistance vs 2-5 mΩ new. Voltage drop testing is more effective than resistance testing for finding faults.
Reference
Wire Drop = I × R_wire
Connector Drop = I × (N_connectors × R_each)
R_connector ≈ 5 mΩ per connection
Total Drop = Wire Drop + Connector Drop
Load Voltage = V_battery − Total Drop
Efficiency = V_load / V_battery × 100