Voltage is the force exerted by a current source in an electrical circuit on charged electrons (current) in a conductive loop, causing them to perform a task, such as lighting a lamp.
Voltage is equal to pressure and is measured in volts (V). The term is named after Alessandro Volta (1745–1827), an Italian physicist who invented the Volta Bar, which was the forerunner of today's household battery.
Voltage was originally known as electromotive energy in the early days of electricity (EMF). There is stress in the equations represented by Ohm's Law, which is represented in English by the symbol E.
In a simple direct current (DC) circuit, an example of voltage is:
The switch is closed in this DC circuit (on).
The current source's voltage - the potential difference between the battery's two poles - is enabled, creating pressure that causes electrons to flow as current from the negative pole of the battery.
The current enters the lamp, which causes it to light up.
The energy is returned to the source.
AC or DC voltages are used. What makes them different:
AC voltage (on a digital multimeter, defined by ):
Flows in the following uniformly rolling sine curves:
AC (alternating current) voltage
At regular intervals, it reverses direction.
Electricity is produced by generators that transform mechanical energy, such as rotary motion powered by running water, steam, wind, or heat, into electrical energy.
Voltage in the AC range is more common than voltage in the DC range. AC voltage is supplied by electricity suppliers to homes and businesses where AC voltage is used by the majority of the equipment.
The primary voltage supply varies by region. In Europe, for example, the voltage is 230V.
DC voltage is used in some household equipment, such as televisions and computers. They transform AC voltage and current to DC using rectifiers (like the bulky lump on a laptop cord).
The terms "voltage" and "potential difference" are often interchanged. The potential difference is more precisely defined as the difference in potential energy between two points in a circuit. The variance (in volts) indicates how much potential energy is available to transfer electrons from one location to another. The value shows how much work the circuit will actually do.
A standard AA alkaline battery, for example, has 1.5 volts. Electrical outlets in the home usually have a voltage of 120 volts. The potential of a circuit to "shoot on" more electrons and do something increases as the voltage in the circuit rises.
Water in a tank can be attributed to the voltage / potential difference. The greater the ability of the water to have an effect when a valve is opened and the water (like electrons) will flow, the bigger the tank and the higher it is (and therefore at a higher potential velocity).
Most troubleshooting cases are handled by technicians who understand how a circuit can function normally.
From small units to household appliances and industrial motors, circuits are used to supply energy to a load. A form plate on a load specifies the electrical reference values, such as voltage and current. Some manufacturers have a detailed diagram (technical diagram) of the loads of a load instead of a form plate. Default values can be found in manuals.
When a load is running normally, these figures tell a technician what calculated values to expect. A digital multimeter reading can objectively detect deviations from the standard. Nonetheless, the technician must apply his expertise and experience to figure out what is causing the variations.