Solar Cable Size Calculator — Correct Wire Gauge for 2026

Enter your current, run length and voltage. We'll size the cable to keep voltage drop under your target — not just to match the amp rating.

⏱ ~15 sec🔧 mm² and AWG🔒 No signup
Add 10-20% if bundled with other cables or in conduit in heat

Recommended cable

6.0 mm²
Minimum cross-section
Nearest AWG10 AWG
Current draw75.0 A
Voltage drop at this size2.8 %
Power lost in cable14 W

This sizes for voltage drop, which for solar DC wiring is usually the limiting factor over ampacity/heat — always check your cable's ampacity rating too, and follow local electrical code.

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Further reading: Off-Grid Solar 101: What It Actually Takes to Leave the Grid

How cable size is calculated

Current (A) = Power (W) ÷ Voltage (V)
Cross-section (mm²) = (2 × Length (m) × Current (A)) ÷ (Conductivity × Allowed voltage drop (V))
Copper conductivity ≈ 56 m/Ω·mm² · Aluminum ≈ 35 m/Ω·mm²

The "2×" accounts for the round trip — current has to travel out to the load and back through the return conductor. This is the same core formula electricians and solar installers use for a first-pass cable sizing check; it's then rounded up to the nearest standard commercial cable size, since cable doesn't come in arbitrary cross-sections.

Frequently asked questions

Why not just use the cable rated for my amperage?

Ampacity tables assume a short run. Over a long distance at low DC voltage, resistance losses can push voltage drop well past 3% long before you hit the cable's heat-based amp limit — voltage drop is usually the binding constraint for solar wiring runs.

What voltage drop target should I use?

3% is a common overall system target (sometimes split as 1% panel-to-controller and 2% controller-to-battery). Critical, high-current short runs sometimes target 1-2% to minimize losses.

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