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The Electric Potential Converter converts between all standard units of electric potential (voltage), from microvolts to megavolts, plus legacy CGS units. Voltage, measured in volts (V), is the electric potential difference that drives current through a circuit.
The volt is defined as one joule per coulomb (W/A): the potential difference across a conductor carrying one ampere when the power dissipated is one watt. Named after Alessandro Volta, the inventor of the voltaic pile (the first chemical battery), the volt is central to all electrical and electronic engineering.
Voltage scales in practical applications span an enormous range: microvolts (µV) in EEG brain signals and thermocouple outputs, millivolts (mV) in sensor outputs and battery cell voltages, volts (V) in household batteries and electronics, kilovolts (kV) in power transmission lines and X-ray tubes, and megavolts (MV) in particle accelerators and lightning.
This converter also includes legacy CGS (Gaussian) units: the statvolt (1 statvolt = 299.792458 V, related to the speed of light) and the abvolt (1 abvolt = 10⁻⁸ V). These units appear in older physics literature and electromagnetic theory references.
Understanding voltage conversion is critical for power system design, electronic circuit analysis, safety assessment, and instrumentation specification. High-voltage engineering (above 1 kV) requires specialized insulation, safety equipment, and design practices.
All values are normalized to volts (V) as the intermediate unit. SI prefix conversions are exact: micro = 10⁻⁶, milli = 10⁻³, kilo = 10³, mega = 10⁶. CGS conversions: 1 statvolt = 299.792458 V (derived from speed of light in cm/s), 1 abvolt = 10⁻⁸ V.
Safety thresholds: voltages above 50 V AC or 120 V DC are generally considered hazardous. Standard household supply is 120 V (US/Japan) or 230 V (Europe/most countries). Power transmission lines operate at 110–765 kV.
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3.3 V = 3300 mV
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11 kV distribution line = 11,000 V
A volt (V) is the SI unit of electric potential difference. It equals one joule of energy per coulomb of charge, or equivalently, one watt per ampere.
Divide millivolts by 1000. For example, 3300 mV = 3.3 V.
US/Canada: 120 V AC (60 Hz). Europe/Asia/Africa/Australia: 220-240 V AC (50 Hz). Japan: 100 V AC (50/60 Hz).
Kilovolts are used in power transmission (11-765 kV), X-ray tubes (30-150 kV), cathode ray tubes, and high-voltage testing.
A typical lightning bolt has a potential difference of 100-300 million volts (100-300 MV) with currents of 20,000-200,000 A lasting microseconds.
The statvolt is a CGS unit of electric potential. 1 statvolt = 299.792458 volts. It appears in the Gaussian system of electromagnetic units used in some physics texts.
Power (watts) = Voltage (volts) x Current (amps). For example, a 120 V circuit drawing 10 A delivers 1200 W of power.
Voltages below 50 V AC or 120 V DC are generally considered safe. However, even lower voltages can be dangerous in wet conditions or with very low skin resistance.
Common battery voltages: AAA/AA/C/D = 1.5 V, 9V = 9 V, lithium coin cells = 3 V, Li-ion (phones) = 3.7 V, car battery = 12 V, EV battery packs = 400-800 V.
The abvolt is a CGS electromagnetic unit. 1 abvolt = 10^-8 volts (10 nanovolts). It is rarely used today but appears in historical electromagnetic literature.
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