Millivolts to Volts Converter
A Millivolts to Volts (mV to V) converter is a fundamental tool for converting small electrical measurements into standard voltage units. This conversion is essential across electronics, medical devices, and industrial systems where precise low-voltage measurements are required.
Unit Definitions
1. Millivolt (mV)
- 1 mV = 0.001 V (10⁻³ V)
Common applications:
b. Sensor outputs (temperature, pressure)
c. Audio signal levels
d. Battery monitoring
2. Volt (V)
- SI base unit of electrical potential
- 1V = potential moving 1 coulomb with 1 joule
Standard references:
b. Car battery: 12V
c. Household outlet: 120V/230V
Conversion Formula
Alternative expressions:
- V = mV × 0.001
- V = mV × 10⁻³
Conversion Process
Obtain measurement in millivolts
Divide by 1,000 (or multiply by 0.001)
Express result in volts
Example:
Conversion Table
Millivolts (mV) | Volts (V) | Common Application |
---|---|---|
1 | 0.001 | Precision sensor output |
10 | 0.01 | Thermocouple measurement |
100 | 0.1 | ECG signal component |
500 | 0.5 | Audio line level |
1,000 | 1.0 | Reference voltage |
2,500 | 2.5 | Sensor full-scale output |
5,000 | 5.0 | USB voltage equivalent |
Practical Applications
Medical Devices
- ECG waveforms (0.5-5mV)
- EEG signals (0.001-0.1mV)
- Pulse oximetry signals
Industrial Systems
- 4-20mA current loops (1-5V equivalent)
- Load cell outputs (typically 0-20mV/V)
- RTD temperature sensors
Consumer Electronics
- Microphone signal levels (1-10mV)
- Battery voltage monitoring
- Touchscreen sensor readings
Measurement Techniques
1. Multimeter Selection:
g- Standard DMMs typically resolve 0.1mV
- Precision meters resolve 1μV
- 4-Wire Kelvin for <10mV measurements
- Shielded cables for noise reduction
- Instrumentation amplifiers
- Analog filters
- Proper grounding
Common Error Sources
Lead Resistance: Significant for <10mV measurements
Thermal EMF: ~40μV/°C per dissimilar metal junction
Electromagnetic Interference: Especially in unshielded setups
Ground Loops: Can introduce mV-level errors
Conversion Examples
Example 1: Convert 25mV to volts
Example 2: Temperature sensor outputs 12.5mV. Express in volts