Voltage drop Metering

[kennethw]

Is anyone familiar with or have experience using the Ideal Circuit Analyzer.
Particularly it's ability to measure voltage drop. I have a building rep who is applying this meter with a 20A, and recording the percentage voltage drop. The rep feels that all 20A rated receptacles should have a 20A load applied any be within the 3% Voltage drop.

Are there alternatives to this meter to measure the voltage drop.

Ken Williams/VA

 

[dereckbc]

Re: Voltage drop Metering

Kenneth I use one extensively. The meter will first take a voltage reading with no load to record the open circuit voltage from the panel. Then it will apply a 15 and 20 amp load and record those readings, then display as a percentage.

The only alternative is to get a load box and volt meter and use the same process.

3% drop is an ANSI/IEEE recommendation for branch circuits, and 2% for feeders. However there is no NEC requirement for voltage drop, rather a design issue. So if specs called for a specific voltage drop at a given load, then you would be obligated to meet those specs, otherwise you take what you get with a 12 AWG.