DC Wire Size (Solar / RV / Marine)

Low-voltage DC wire sizing for 12V, 24V and 48V systems. At low voltage, voltage drop almost always sets the wire size — pick your system voltage, current and run length.

12V DC wire size (at 20 ft, ≤3% drop)

CurrentCopper wire (≤3%)Other distances
5A10 AWG10ft20ft30ft
10A8 AWG10ft20ft30ft
15A6 AWG10ft20ft30ft
20A4 AWG10ft20ft30ft
30A3 AWG10ft20ft30ft
40A2 AWG10ft20ft30ft
50A1 AWG10ft20ft30ft
60A1/0 AWG10ft20ft30ft

24V DC wire size (at 20 ft, ≤3% drop)

CurrentCopper wire (≤3%)Other distances
5A14 AWG10ft20ft30ft
10A10 AWG10ft20ft30ft
15A8 AWG10ft20ft30ft
20A8 AWG10ft20ft30ft
30A6 AWG10ft20ft30ft
40A4 AWG10ft20ft30ft
50A4 AWG10ft20ft30ft
60A3 AWG10ft20ft30ft

48V DC wire size (at 20 ft, ≤3% drop)

CurrentCopper wire (≤3%)Other distances
5A14 AWG10ft20ft30ft
10A14 AWG10ft20ft30ft
15A12 AWG10ft20ft30ft
20A10 AWG10ft20ft30ft
30A8 AWG10ft20ft30ft
40A8 AWG10ft20ft30ft
50A6 AWG10ft20ft30ft
60A6 AWG10ft20ft30ft

Copper, ≤3% voltage drop over the listed one-way distance (round-trip in the math). For solar, size conductors and fuses to 125% per NEC 690.8. Reference only.