Voltage Calculator

What is voltage in simple words?

The "pressure" that pushes electricity is referred to as voltage. An electronic equipment receives more electricity when the voltage is higher, which is measured in units called volts. However, electronic gadgets must work within a range of voltages since too much voltage might harm their circuitry. In contrast, a voltage that is too low can also be problematic since it prevents circuits from functioning and renders the devices that are constructed around them ineffective. To handle electronic devices properly and pinpoint the root causes of troubles when they arise, one must have a working knowledge of voltage and how to resolve related problems.

In any electrical or electronic circuit, voltage is one of the essential factors. Voltage is frequently included in the specifications of a variety of electrical products, including batteries, radios, light bulbs, and shavers. In addition, voltage is a crucial characteristic that is measured within circuits and utilised in calculations for electronic circuit design. Volts are a common measure of voltage or potential difference used in all facets of electrical and electronic circuits and electronic circuit design. Voltage is a crucial component in the planning and execution of any circuit, along with current and resistance. The operating voltage of a piece of equipment is crucial because electrical and electronic equipment needs to be connected to supply with the appropriate voltage. A 240 volt light bulb will not light up when connected to a 12 volt battery, but if a small 5 volt USB device is connected to a 240 volt supply, an excessive amount of current will flow, causing it to burn up and sustain irreparable damage.

How voltage is measured?

Voltage is measured with multimeters. Multimeters may measure characteristics such as current, resistance, temperature, and capacitance in addition to voltage. They can also check for continuity. Multimeters available in both analogue and digital varieties, but since they display values right away, digital ones are the simplest to use without inadvertently reading them. Connecting positive and negative test leads and choosing a voltage measurement range allow you to measure voltage with a multimeter. After that, connect the leads to both ends of the circuit you want to measure. You always start with the widest voltage measurement range when using an analogue tester. If the instrument still doesn't respond, you attempt gradually smaller measurement ranges until you find one that can measure the voltage of the circuit.

What are the types of voltage?

The polarity and voltage levels determine the different forms of voltage. A unidirectional current, or direct current (DC), only flows in one direction. Batteries with clearly marked polarity are typically the source of DC power. These sources have the capacity to store DC electrical energy. It has fixed positive and negative polarities. In addition to signs, the dash with three dots () symbol is used to represent DC voltage. You should be cautious while connecting the load using the proper polarities because the DC voltage only forces the current in one direction. The circuit will be harmed by reversing the polarities.

Due to the ongoing shift in voltage polarities in alternating current (AC), the current direction is constantly changing. Our home's outlets use a 50/60 Hz voltage supply, which means that it switches polarity 100–120 times every second. There are no + or - signs on the outlets since it has inconsistent polarities. The load can therefore be connected in either direction. The operation of the machine will not be impacted by switching the terminals. A wave symbol () is used to represent the AC voltage. Any equipment made to run on AC current cannot be used with DC voltage, and the reverse is equally true. On the equipment that it is designed for, the voltage type is prominently displayed.

A range of voltage below 70 volts is referred to as extra low voltage, or ELV. The human body is not harmed by this level of voltage. It is used specifically to remove the risk of electric shock. It is utilised in spa illumination, pool lighting, and battery-powered equipment. The low voltage range includes all values that are higher than the ELV and lower than the 600v range. This voltage is typically sent to consumer homes and businesses. 110/220 volts are provided by the outlets in our homes. It is not advised to handle live wires with such voltages. Touching such voltage will shock you and, if you're lucky, push you away. Be cautious around it at all times because it could prove fatal in wet weather.

The low voltage range includes all values that are higher than the ELV and lower than the 600v range. This voltage is typically sent to consumer homes and businesses. 110/220 volts are provided by the outlets in our homes. It is not advised to handle live wires with such voltages. Touching such voltage will shock you and, if you're lucky, push you away. Be cautious around it at all times because it could prove fatal in wet weather. Between 115 KV and 230 KV are the high voltages. Between cities and from generating stations to load substations, these voltages are utilised to transmit power. The very high voltage is used to transmit power over very long distances. Its range is between 345 KV and 765 KV. To communicate across greater distances, the voltage must be raised. Voltage increases reduce line losses brought on by current.

What is the difference between voltage and current?

Voltage is "the ability to cause electricity to flow," to put it simply. Since you can't see voltage with your eyes, if you're like most people, you have a hard time picturing what voltage is. Understanding electricity is a prerequisite for comprehending voltage. A current is how electricity moves. It can be visualised as a river's worth of water flowing. River water travels from mountains in the upstream to the ocean in the downstream direction. To put it another way, water flows from high-water-level areas to low-water-level areas. Similar to how water height is related to electric potential, electricity behaves similarly, moving from locations with high electric potential to those with low electric potential.