voltage loss over long runs

[GeeTwo]

Originally Posted by wireties

Lots of tall robots this year! Several online calculators tell me I lose 1.8V in a 30' long 10 AWG wire with a 30A load.

Question: do I really lose two times 1.8V? 1.8V in the red wire and 1.8V in the black?

TIA

You shouldn't need to run 30' of wire for robot height; 78" each way is the maximum length you'll need due to height, even if you put the PDP at the floor. (Sprawl and routing will add additional length requirements, of course.) We have a robot over 6' tall, but I believe all of our motor runs are less than 3' from the PDP to the motor (and another 3' back), because all of our motors are down low on the chassis; all the electricity above the control board is for lights or limit switches. Keeping the motors low also helps reduce the likelihood of tipping over, as well.