Comparing methods of calculating voltage drop in low voltage feeders

A generalised model of loads and networks is used to assess the accuracy of several different algorithms for calculation of voltage drop in low voltage feeders. The load models include single parameter, Normal and Beta distributions. Benchmark networks include simple and branched feeders with balanced and unbalanced three phase loading, as well as a single phase feeder. The results of the different algorithms are compared with a base case Monte Carlo simulation. The Herman Beta algorithm is found to be the most reliable. The other algorithms tested give large errors of estimate of the voltage drop.