Electrical Engineering Stack Exchange
Electrical Engineering Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [voltage]

Voltage, otherwise known as electrical potential difference (denoted ∆V and measured in volts) is the difference in electric potential between two points (adapted from Wikipedia). Voltage can be constant (DC) or varying (AC).

Voltage, otherwise known as electrical potential difference (denoted ∆V and measured in volts) is the difference in electric potential between two points (adapted from Wikipedia). Voltage can be constant (DC) or varying (AC).

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What is the difference between \$V_{CC}\$, \$V_{DD}\$, \$V_{EE}\$, \$V_{SS}\$

I've seen lots of schematics use \$V_{CC}\$ and \$V_{DD}\$ interchangeably. I know \$V_{CC}\$ and \$V_{DD}\$ are for positive voltage, and \$V_{SS}\$ and \$V_{EE}\$ are for ground, but what is the difference between each of the two? Do the \$C\$,…
Shubham
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Choosing power supply, how to get the voltage and current ratings?

Power supplies are available in a wide range of voltage and current ratings. If I have a device that has specific voltage and current ratings, how do those relate to the power ratings I need to specify? What if I don't know the device's specs, but…
Olin Lathrop
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What is negative voltage?

Just a general electronics question: What is negative voltage, like -5 Volt? From my basic knowledge, power is generated by electrons wandering from the minus to the plus side of the power source (assuming DC power here). Is negative voltage when…
Michael Stum
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What exactly is voltage?

Bit of a strange question, but what is it? My physics teacher said it was kind of like a "push" that pushes electrons around the circuit. Can I have a more complex explanation? Any help is much appreciated.
imulsion
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What is ground and what does it do?

I'm a bit confused about the concept of ground, and perhaps voltage as well, particularly when trying to analyze a circuit. When I learned about Ohm's law in grade school, I learned how to apply the law to calculate current, voltage, and resistance…
hedgepig
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How much voltage/current is "dangerous"?

Related: Safe current/voltage limit for human contact? From what I've heard: 110 V (or 220 V; household voltage pretty much) is dangerous (i.e. can kill you) I think there's consensus on this, no need to try :) 60 V (old telephone lines) is…
user541686
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Can a bird, previously at earth potential, get electrocuted by landing on a powerline at high-enough voltage due to the initial "equalization charge"?

At the voltage levels of typical overhead transmission lines in the US, a bird can land on one and be just fine (as long as it doesn't do something like spread its wings and touch a tree or something else at lower electric potential). However, what…
etherice
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Why do many laptops run on 19 volts?

Typically mobile devices that have a mains-powered supply will accept voltage that is multiple of some single battery voltage. For example, 4.5 volts is 1.5 volts (AA primary battery) 3 times and 36 volts is 3.6 volts (Li-Ion battery) 10 times. Now…
sharptooth
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What does 3V3 or 1V8 mean?

While reading a datasheet for an IC I came across the pin voltages being presented as 3V3 or 1V8. What does this representation stand for?
Ankit
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How safe is 48V DC?

In many Power over Ethernet (POE) setups the transmission voltage is 48V or slightly more. While higher voltage has obvious efficiency advantages, how safe it is? Is there any risk of electrocution when accidentally exposed, in particular to…
Petr
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230V AC to 5V DC converter, lossless

Is there any IC which converts 230V AC to 5V DC? As lossless as possible. I want to connect my microcontroller to an ordinary electrical socket and I don't have enough space available. Thanks.
arminb
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Easy way to figure out a LED's Vf in order to pick an appropriate resistor

I was wondering what the easiest way to figure out a LED's forward voltage is, using measurement tools. I know we can assume red LEDs to be around 1.8V - 2.2V, and that we have similar information for other LED colors, but I was wondering if…
diegoreymendez
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Why do fire and security systems run at 27.6 V?

I have been looking at buying power supply units for a project, and I keep seeing supplies that output 27.6 V. It's an unusually specific number, so what they are used for, and why is it important that they produce 27.6 V? It appears that these are…
Lucas
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Why aren’t the main conductors in this underground power cable made from copper?

I’ve found a piece of electrical cable left by the electricity company that supplies the area. They did a repair recently underground. I’m curious why the three big triangular conductors aren’t made from copper. It looks like aluminium to me, but…
i-CONICA
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Why isn't there a potential difference across a disconnected diode?

I know this question sounds silly, as if there was a potential difference a current would be created when the terminals are connected together and this would mean energy has come from somewhere. The reason I ask this though is that from my…
Blue7
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