Electric Static Potential Converter
Convert electric potential between volts, kilovolts, millivolts, microvolts, and statvolts. Enter a nonnegative value, then choose the units to convert from and to.
Convert Electric Static Potential Between Units
Electric Static Potential Formula
Where:
- \(x_{\mathrm{from}}\) — the electric potential value entered in the selected From unit
- \(x_{\mathrm{to}}\) — the converted value in the selected To unit
- \(f_{\mathrm{from}}\) and \(f_{\mathrm{to}}\) — the number of volts in one of each selected unit
The calculator first expresses the entered value in volts, then divides by the number of volts in one target unit. For statvolts, it uses \(1\,\mathrm{statV}=299.792458\,\mathrm{V}\).
Electric Static Potential – Calculation Example
Example: enter the default value of 100, with Volt (V) as the From unit and Kilovolt (kV) as the To unit.
\[100\,\mathrm{V}\times\frac{1\,\mathrm{V/V}}{1000\,\mathrm{V/kV}}=0.1\,\mathrm{kV}\]
Result: 100 V equals 0.1 kV.
How to use the calculator
- Enter a nonnegative number in Electric potential value. Enter the number only; the unit is chosen separately.
- Choose its current unit in From unit. The available choices are Volt (V), Kilovolt (kV), Millivolt (mV), Microvolt (µV), and Statvolt (statV).
- Choose the unit you want in To unit. You can select any of the same five units.
- Read Converted Electric Potential. The displayed number is followed by the selected target-unit abbreviation.
The default settings convert 100 V to kV, giving 0.1 kV. To reverse a conversion, exchange the From unit and To unit selections and enter the value you want to convert back.
What electric potential means
Electric potential describes electric potential energy per unit of charge at a point, relative to a chosen reference. A difference in potential between two points is voltage. Both an electric potential and a potential difference can be expressed in volts, so the same unit conversion applies to either quantity. The converter changes how a value is expressed; it does not calculate an electric field or determine the potential at a point.
One volt represents one joule of potential energy per coulomb of charge. Kilovolts, millivolts, and microvolts are decimal multiples or fractions of the volt. Choosing a suitably sized unit can make a result easier to read: for example, 0.001 V is 1 mV, while 1,000 V is 1 kV. These are equal potentials expressed on different scales.
The statvolt is a unit from the CGS electrostatic system, rather than an SI-prefixed volt. It is much larger than a volt: 1 statV equals 299.792458 V using this calculator’s conversion factor. Check the unit attached to a source value before entering it, especially when comparing figures taken from SI and CGS references.
Assumptions and practical tips
This is a unit converter, not a circuit or electrostatics solver. It does not account for charge distribution, distance, resistance, or other conditions that might be needed to find a potential. It assumes that the entered number already represents a potential or potential difference in the From unit.
The input accepts zero and positive values. Although potentials and potential differences can be negative relative to a reference or measurement direction, this calculator’s input does not accept negative numbers. Do not remove a minus sign from a physical measurement and then treat the converted positive result as the original signed value.
Results are rounded to six decimal places. A very small nonzero conversion may therefore display as zero, and converting a rounded result back may not reproduce every digit of the original value. If precision matters, keep the unrounded source value for later calculations rather than using the displayed result as an intermediate value.
An electronvolt (eV) is a unit of energy, not a selectable electric-potential unit here. It must not be used interchangeably with a volt (V). For related electrical quantities, use the Electric Current converter or Conductance Units converter.
Conversion factors
The table shows the volt value used for one unit. To convert any listed unit to another, multiply by the factor in its row and divide by the factor in the target unit’s row.
| Unit | Abbreviation | Value in volts |
|---|---|---|
| Volt | V | 1 V |
| Kilovolt | kV | 1,000 V |
| Millivolt | mV | 0.001 V |
| Microvolt | µV | 0.000001 V |
| Statvolt | statV | 299.792458 V |
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I convert between millivolts and microvolts by hand?
Multiply millivolts by 1,000 to get microvolts; divide microvolts by 1,000 to get millivolts. For example, 2.5 mV is 2,500 µV. A useful check is that the number gets larger when you switch to the smaller unit, even though the electric potential stays the same.
How do I convert statvolts to kilovolts?
Multiply the statvolt value by 299.792458 to obtain volts, then divide by 1,000 to obtain kilovolts. For example, 2 statV is approximately 0.599585 kV. Do not treat the prefix “stat” as an SI prefix: a statvolt belongs to a different unit system.
What is a normal or good electric potential value?
There is no universal good value; it depends on what is being measured and the reference point. A small sensor signal may be measured in millivolts, while electrical equipment may operate at hundreds of volts. A potential value alone does not establish whether a circuit is working correctly or is safe to touch. Follow the equipment’s specifications and electrical safety guidance.
Can I convert a negative voltage with this calculator?
The calculator accepts only zero or positive inputs. A negative voltage indicates a chosen measurement direction or reference, not a different conversion factor. To work it out manually, convert the magnitude and retain the minus sign: −5 mV is −0.005 V. Do not discard the sign when interpreting a measurement.
Can volts be converted directly to volts per meter?
No. Volts measure potential or potential difference; volts per meter measure electric field strength. To calculate a field from a voltage, you also need information about the spatial arrangement. Between ideal parallel plates with a uniform field, field strength equals the potential difference divided by plate separation in meters. That shortcut does not generally apply to irregular fields.
How do I find energy from a potential difference?
Multiply the potential difference in volts by the charge moved in coulombs to obtain energy in joules: \(E=q\Delta V\). For example, moving 2 C through a potential difference of 3 V corresponds to 6 J of energy change in magnitude. The sign of the energy change depends on the charge and the direction of movement.
Why might a small converted potential display as zero?
The displayed result is rounded to six decimal places. For example, 0.1 µV equals 0.0000001 V, which may display as 0.000000 V despite being nonzero. Choose a smaller target unit, such as µV, to make the value easier to read, and retain the original number for calculations requiring more precision.