What is the voltage drop for a 3-hp pump installed 220 feet from a 220-volt main service using 12 AWG solid wire?

To determine the voltage drop for a 3-horsepower (hp) pump installed 220 feet from a 220-volt main service using 12 AWG solid wire, we need to consider a few important factors including the current drawn by the pump, the distance of the wire run, and the properties of the wire.

First, let's calculate the current that a 3-hp pump draws. Electric power is measured in watts, and 1 hp is approximately equal to 746 watts. Therefore, a 3-hp pump would use about:

3 hp * 746 watts/hp = 2238 watts

To find the current in amperes, we use the formula:

Current (I) = Power (P) / Voltage (V)

So substituting our values:

I = 2238 watts / 220 volts ≈ 10.14 amps

Next, we can calculate the voltage drop. The voltage drop (V_d) can be calculated using the formula:

V_d = 2 * L * I * R

Where:

• L is the one-way length of the circuit (in feet),
• I is the current in amperes,
• R is the resistance per 1000 feet for the wire