Friday, July 24, 2026
line drop in regard to electricity
If you have a gas or diesel powered generator that you are creating 110 volts for your house with, you likely aren't going to have much line drop on a 100 foot outdoor orange cord with a three pronged plug and receptacle.
However, if you are far away from the generator say 500 feet or more through multiple 100 foot cords plugged into each other you might have a little or a lot of line drop where it might be unsafe to run whatever you are doing through that many feet of cord because of line drop.
It's one of the reasons why in the U.S. we have 1000 volt lines at 100 or 200 Amps along telephone poles to prevent line drop because the higher the voltage and amperage the lower the line drop apparently. So, then the 1000 volt lines are run through Transformers (usually on Telephone poles unless electricity is run underground) and the transformers reduce the voltage to 220 volt single phase of either 100 to 200 Amps (Amperage) when it enters your home or business. Then it takes 3 wires to have 220 volts but only 2 wires to have 110 Volts. One leg of the 220 volt double wire creates 110 volts along with the neutral wire which is one of the three wires coming into your home or business from the transformer (usually on a telephone pole) the 1000 volts is usually the top wire on any Telephone pole to prevent people from dying of a shock from those 1000 volts because that much voltage is usually fatal always.
However, I have a friend who survived being hit with 1000 volts when he was young (10 to 15 years old) and it blew him about 25 feet from where he was hit when his muscles all stiffened at once and he woke up an hour later from this and recovered okay. But, he is the only person I have ever heard of who survived getting hit with 1000 volts off a telephone pole.
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begin quote on Line Drop
Voltage Drop in Circuits
- Cause: Caused by the inherent resistance or impedance of conductors (wires) when carrying electrical current.
- Effect: Voltage at the end of the wire (the load) is lower than the voltage at the source.
- Consequences: Can cause lights to dim, motors to overheat, and equipment to run inefficiently.
Utility Service Drop
- Definition: The overhead [[Service drop - Wikipedia|service drop] lines running from a utility company pole to a home or business.
- Components: Includes the physical conductors, a drip loop to prevent water entry, and a service mast.
If you mean a specific issue, tell me:
- Are you trying to calculate voltage loss for a wiring project?
- Do you have a question about overhead utility lines on your property?
I can give you the exact details you need.
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Amperage (regarding Electricity)
For most people who don't do electrical work every day amperage is important because of the size of wires you are using. Otherwise, if these wires are not built for that level of amperage they will melt and possibly create fires. But, if you are plugging an orange outdoor cord into a 110 plug in your generator or truck you likely are good for at least 100 feet of cord because I do this all the time when our power goes out from trees blowing down usually in the winter where I live on the Northern Califronia coast when wind comes off the ocean at 50 to 100 plus miles an hour. There have been years when 100 or more trees have gone down in the same big gust of wind nearby me. And the Christmas before last a big tree from our neighbors broke the railing on our deck and smashed the foam cover of our hot tub. but, luckily it didn't knock out our power.
This on Capacity and Safety is what most people need to know about amperage as long as they aren't trying to rewire their whole house.
Capacity and Safety: Every electrical wire and circuit breaker has a specific maximum amperage it can handle (sometimes called ampacity). Exceeding this limit causes wires to overheat and melt, creating severe fire and shock hazards.
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amperage
/ˈamp(ə)rij/
Amperage is the strength or intensity of an electrical current, measured in amperes (amps). It represents the volume and speed of electrical charge (electrons) flowing through a circuit per second.
To
visualize this using a water hose, voltage is the water pressure, while
amperage is the actual volume of water flowing through the pipe.
Why Amperage Matters
- Capacity and Safety: Every electrical wire and circuit breaker has a specific maximum amperage it can handle (sometimes called ampacity). Exceeding this limit causes wires to overheat and melt, creating severe fire and shock hazards.
- Calculating Power: Amperage relates directly to total power and electrical pressure using the fundamental equation . For instance, a 1200-watt appliance plugged into a standard 120-volt outlet draws 10 amps of current.
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Jul 1, 2026 — 1. The strength of a current of electricity expressed in amperes. 2. Level of excitement or energy.
Jun 17, 2024 — Amperage is the one-word term for “electrical current,” which is measured in amperes (amps). It describes the amount of electrical charge that is flowing ...
Amperage, measured in amperes or simply “amps,” represents the rate at which electrical charge flows through a conductor.
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