Electric Potential Converter
Print pageAll Equivalents Reference Table
| Unit | Equivalent Value |
|---|
Electric Potential (also known as Voltage, Electromotive Force EMF, Electric Potential Difference, or Electric Tension, symbolized by V or E) measures the electrical work required to move a unit positive charge from a reference point (electric ground or infinity) to a specific point in an electrostatic field (V = W ÷ Q = P ÷ I = I · R, where W is work in joules, Q is electric charge in coulombs, P is electrical power in watts, I is current in amperes, and R is resistance in ohms). Across high-voltage utility power transmission, EV battery pack design, household AC wiring, biomedical ECG heart monitoring, sub-10nm microchip rail voltages, and quantum Josephson junction metrology standards, electric potential is categorized across four major engineering unit families: International System of Units (SI metric fundamental: Volt / V, Kilovolt / kV, Megavolt / MV, Millivolt / mV, Microvolt / μV, Watt per Ampere / W/A), CGS Electrostatic System units (Statvolt / stV, ESU of Electric Potential), CGS Electromagnetic System units (Abvolt / abV, EMU of Electric Potential), and Quantum Josephson Voltage Constants (Josephson Frequency Ratio / GHz/V).
Our free online Electric Potential Converter provides instant, high-precision conversions across all SI metric, utility power grid, CGS electromagnetic, and quantum metrology voltage units:
- Watt per Ampere to Volt [SI Fundamental Identity]:
1 W/A = 1.0 Volt (V)(100% mathematically identical derived SI base unit). - Kilovolt to Volts & Millivolts [Power Grid Standard]: Multiply kV by
1,000.0(1 kV = 1,000.0 V = 1.0 × 106 mV ⇒ 1 V = 0.001 kV). - Megavolt to Volts [High-Voltage & Lightning Standard]: Multiply MV by
1,000,000.0(1 MV = 1,000,000.0 V = 1,000.0 kV ⇒ 1 V = 1.0 × 10-6 MV). - Statvolt (stV / ESU) to Volts [CGS Electrostatic Standard]: Multiply stV by
299.792458(1 statvolt = 1 ESU of potential = 299.792458 Volts ⇒ 1 V = 0.00333564 stV). - Abvolt (abV / EMU) to Volts [CGS Electromagnetic Standard]: Multiply abA by
1.0 × 10-8(1 abvolt = 1 EMU of potential = 1.0 × 10-8 V = 10.0 Nanovolts nV ⇒ 1 V = 1.0 × 108 abV). - Millivolt to Volts & Microvolts [Sensors & Biomedical]:
1 mV = 0.001 V = 1,000.0 μA = 100,000.0 abV.
Master Electric Potential Conversion Table
The table below displays exact mathematical conversion relationships, SI Volt (V) multipliers, and Statvolt (stV) equivalents relative to 1 Volt (1 V = 1.0 W/A = 1,000 mV = 0.001 kV = 0.00333564 stV):
| Electric Potential Unit Name | Symbol | Exact Value in Volts (V) | mV, kV & Statvolt (stV) Equivalent | Domain & Technical Application Standard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Volt (Base SI Unit) | V, J/C |
1.0 V (Base SI Unit) |
1,000.0 mV (0.001 kV / 0.00333564 stV / 1.0 × 108 abV) |
SI Fundamental Derived Unit of Electric Potential & EMF |
| 1 Watt per Ampere | W/A |
1.0 V (Identical to Volt) |
1,000.0 mV (1.0 V / 0.001 kV / 0.00333564 stV) |
Electrical Power Dissipation Ratio Metric |
| 1 Kilovolt | kV |
1,000.0 V (103 V) |
1.0 × 106 mV (1.0 kV / 3.33564 stV / 1.0 × 1011 abV) |
Utility Power Distribution & Industrial Substation Standard |
| 1 Megavolt | MV |
1,000,000.0 V (106 V) |
1,000.0 kV (3,335.64 stV / 1.0 × 1014 abV) | Ultra-High Voltage (UHV) Transmission & Lightning Physics |
| 1 Statvolt (ESU of Potential) | stV, ESU |
299.792458 V |
299,792.46 mV (0.299792 kV / 1.0 stV / 2.99792 × 1010 abV) | CGS Electrostatic Unit System Potential Standard |
| 1 Abvolt (EMU of Potential) | abV, EMU |
1.0 × 10-8 V (10 nV) |
0.00001 mV (1.0 × 10-5 mV / 3.33564 × 10-11 stV) | CGS Electromagnetic Unit System Potential Standard |
| 1 Millivolt | mV |
0.001 V (10-3 V) |
1.0 mV (0.000001 kV / 1,000.0 μV / 3.33564 × 10-6 stV) | Biomedical Signals (ECG/EEG) & Precision Sensors |
Step-by-Step 500 kV Grid Line & Li-Ion Battery Potential Calculation Example
To calculate the electric potential difference (V) carried by a 500-Kilovolt AC overhead power transmission line (V = 500 kV = 500,000 V), and calculate the potential of a fully charged Lithium-Ion battery cell (V = 4.20 Volts) into Volts (V), Millivolts (mV), Statvolts (stV), and Abvolts (abV):
Step 1 (500 kV Grid Line Conversion to Volts): V = 500 kV × 1,000 = 500,000 Volts (500,000 V)
Step 2 (500 kV Grid Line Statvolts & Abvolts): V = 500,000 V ÷ 299.792458 = 1,667.82 Statvolts (1,667.82 stV) = 5.0 × 1013 Abvolts (5.0 × 1013 abV)
Step 3 (Li-Ion Battery Millivolts Calculation): V = 4.20 V × 1,000 = 4,200 Millivolts (4,200 mV)
Step 4 (Li-Ion Battery Statvolts Conversion): V = 4.20 V ÷ 299.792458 = 0.0140097 Statvolts (0.0140 stV)
Thus, the 500 kV power line operates at 500,000 V (1,667.82 stV), while the Li-ion battery cell operates at 4.20 V (4,200 mV).
Real-World Voltage & Electrical Grid Benchmarks
Below is a comparative reference chart showing electric potential values (V) across heart signals, consumer batteries, wall sockets, grid lines, and lightning bolts:
| Electrical System / Voltage Benchmark | Electric Potential in Volts (V) | kV, mV & Statvolt Equivalent | Electrical Engineering & Physics Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Human Heart Electrocardiogram (ECG) Signal Peak | 0.0010 – 0.0020 V (1.0 – 2.0 mV) | 1,000.0 – 2,000.0 μV (3.335 × 10-6 stV) | Biomedical cardiac muscle depolarization electrical potential |
| Lithium-Ion Battery Cell Nominal Potential | 3.70 V | 3,700.0 mV (0.012342 stV / 3.7 × 108 abV) | Standard smartphone & EV battery chemistry cell voltage |
| North American Household Wall Outlet (120V AC) | 120.0 V RMS (170 V Peak) | 0.120 kV (0.40028 stV / 1.2 × 1010 abV) | Residential 60Hz single-phase AC utility supply voltage |
| 500 kV AC Overhead Power Transmission Grid Line | 500,000.0 V (500 kV) | 0.50 MV (1,667.82 stV / 5.0 × 1013 abV) | Regional high-voltage electrical grid backbone transmission |
| Atmospheric Cloud-to-Ground Lightning Stroke | 10,000,000.0 – 100,000,000.0 V (10 – 100 MV) | 10,000 – 100,000 kV (33,356 – 333,564 stV) | Atmospheric electrostatic discharge peak potential difference |
History & Physics: 1800 Voltaic Pile vs 1962 Quantum Josephson Voltage Standard
1800 Alessandro Volta & The Invention of the Voltaic Pile
In 1800, Italian physicist Alessandro Volta invented the Voltaic Pile, the world’s first chemical electrical battery, by stacking alternating discs of zinc and copper separated by brine-soaked cardboard. For the first time in human history, scientists had a continuous source of electromotive force (EMF). In 1881, the International Electrical Congress officially named the SI unit of electric potential the Volt (V) in Volta’s honor.
1962 Brian Josephson & Quantum Josephson Voltage Standard (KJ = 2e ÷ h)
In 1962, Welsh physicist Brian Josephson discovered that a quantum mechanical supercurrent passing through a thin insulating barrier between two superconductors oscillates at a frequency precisely proportional to the applied DC voltage: f = (2e ÷ h) · V = KJ · V. Today, international metrology institutes define the Volt using the Josephson Constant (KJ = 483,597.8484 GHz/V), linking electric potential directly to Planck’s constant (h) and elementary charge (e).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How do you convert Volts (V) to Millivolts (mV)?
To convert Volts to Millivolts, multiply V by 1,000. For example, 3.7 V × 1,000 = 3,700.0 mV.
How do you convert Millivolts (mV) to Volts (V)?
To convert Millivolts to Volts, divide mV by 1,000 (or multiply by 0.001). For example, 250 mV ÷ 1,000 = 0.25 Volts.
What is 1 Statvolt (stV) equal to in Volts?
1 Statvolt (stV), also known as 1 ESU of electric potential in the CGS electrostatic system, equals exactly 299.792458 Volts (approx. 299.79 V).
Is 1 Watt per Ampere (W/A) equal to 1 Volt (V)?
Yes! 1 Watt per Ampere (W/A) is 100% mathematically identical to 1 Volt (1 V). From electrical power law: P = V · I ⇒ V = P ÷ I = 1 W ÷ 1 A = 1 V.