pingelangused

Pingelangused, or voltage drops, describe reductions in electrical potential between a power source and a point in a circuit. They occur in both direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) systems and are typically expressed as a voltage value or as a percentage of the source voltage.

Causes of pingelangused include conductor resistance and impedance over length, excess current drawn by loads, poor or loose connections, undersized conductors, and impedance from transformers or power delivery equipment. In AC circuits, reactive elements such as inductance and capacitance contribute to the drop, affecting both magnitude and phase.

Measurement and calculation are straightforward in principle. Measure the source voltage V_source and the voltage at the load V_load, then ΔV = V_source − V_load, and drop percentage = (ΔV / V_source) × 100%. For DC, ΔV ≈ I × R_conductor. For AC, ΔV ≈ I × Z_path, with phasor calculations to express the drop’s magnitude and phase.

Impact and risks of excessive voltage drops include malfunction of lighting, motors, sensors, and control circuits, reduced efficiency, and increased heating in conductors. In power distribution, voltage drop limits influence conductor sizing, routing, and transformer placement to ensure adequate voltage at points of use.

Mitigation strategies focus on reducing resistance and impedance along the path. These include using larger conductors, shortening run lengths, balancing loads, improving terminations, and installing voltage regulators, autotransformers, or local DC-DC converters at the point of use.