Voltage Unit Converter

Posted by Robbie Dickson on

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Voltage Unit Converter + Reference Table & Electronics Applications

You're wiring a 12V linear actuator, reading a millivolt signal from a position sensor, and your datasheet lists specs in microvolts. That's 3 different voltage units in a single project. This converter handles all of them — instantly. Enter any voltage value, pick your units, and get every conversion at once. Below you'll also find a visual reference scale, worked examples, the underlying math, and practical guidance for actuator and sensor applications.

What Is Voltage Unit Conversion?

Voltage unit conversion translates the same electrical potential between different scales — microvolts (µV), millivolts (mV), volts (V), kilovolts (kV), and megavolts (MV). Every unit is simply a power-of-10 multiple of the base volt.

Simple Explanation

Think of voltage units like distance units. A kilometer is 1,000 meters, and a millimeter is 0.001 meters — the actual distance doesn't change, just the label. Voltage works the same way: 12V is 12,000mV is 12,000,000µV. You're describing the same electrical pressure in different-sized "buckets." The converter below just shifts the decimal point by the right number of places.

Voltage Scale — Common Reference Points (Logarithmic) 1 µV Sensor noise 1 mV Thermocouple 100 mV Pressure sensor 12V Actuator 24V Actuator 120V Mains (US) 1 kV Industrial 1 MV Lightning ← Lower voltage Higher voltage → Value in target unit = Value × (source factor ÷ target factor) All factors are relative to 1 Volt

Voltage Unit Converter

Converted Values
Microvolts (µV)
—
Millivolts (mV)
—
Volts (V)
—
Kilovolts (kV)
—
Megavolts (MV)
—

🎥 Video — Voltage Unit Converter

Voltage Unit Converter

How to Use This Calculator

The converter updates instantly — no button needed. Here's the quick walkthrough:

  1. Enter your voltage value in the input field. The default is 12 — our most common actuator voltage.
  2. Select the source unit from the dropdown. Choose µV, mV, V, kV, or MV to match your datasheet or measurement.
  3. Read the results. All 5 unit conversions appear simultaneously in the blue result boxes below.
  4. Change values on the fly. Every time you adjust the number or switch units, the results recalculate instantly.
  5. Click "Try Example" if you want to reset to the 12V default and see a clean conversion.

Voltage Unit Formula

The math here is straightforward. Every voltage unit is a fixed multiple of the base unit — the volt. Converting between any 2 units is a single multiplication.

General Conversion Formula:

Result = Input Value × (Source Factor ÷ Target Factor)
Equivalent Form (via Volts):

Value in Volts = Input Value × Source Factor
Result = Value in Volts ÷ Target Factor
Symbol Unit Name Factor (relative to 1 V)
µV Microvolt 0.000001 (10⁻⁶)
mV Millivolt 0.001 (10⁻³)
V Volt 1 (10⁰)
kV Kilovolt 1,000 (10³)
MV Megavolt 1,000,000 (10⁶)

Simple Example

Scenario: You have a 12V power supply for a FIRGELLI linear actuator and you need to know the equivalent in millivolts and microvolts — maybe you're comparing it against a sensor's full-scale output range.

Input: 12 V

Step 1 — Convert to base unit (Volts):
12 V × 1 = 12 V (already in volts)

Step 2 — Convert to millivolts:
12 V ÷ 0.001 = 12,000 mV

Step 3 — Convert to microvolts:
12 V ÷ 0.000001 = 12,000,000 µV

Step 4 — Convert to kilovolts:
12 V ÷ 1,000 = 0.012 kV

Practical meaning: Those 12 volts driving your actuator represent 12,000 millivolts. When a feedback sensor on that actuator outputs a signal in the 0–100 mV range, you can immediately see the scale difference — the supply voltage is 120× larger than the sensor's full-scale output. That's why signal conditioning and proper wiring matter.

Engineering Applications

Actuator Operating Voltages — 12V and 24V DC

12V and 24V DC are the 2 standard voltages for FIRGELLI linear actuators. We design around these because they match the most common power sources you'll encounter — automotive batteries, solar setups, bench supplies, and industrial 24V rails. When you're specifying an actuator, confirming the supply voltage is literally step 1. Get it wrong and you'll either underpower the motor (slow, weak, potentially stalling under load) or overvoltage it (shortened lifespan, overheating, possible failure).

In practice, your actual supply might read 13.8V off a fully charged car battery or 27.6V from a float-charged 24V system. Knowing how to express these in millivolts matters when you're configuring a controller's voltage monitoring thresholds — 13,800 mV is how your microcontroller's ADC will see it after a voltage divider, and that's the number you'll compare in code.

Sensor Signals in the Millivolt Range

Sensor signals are often in the mV range. A pressure sensor might output 0 to 100 mV full scale. Strain gauges, thermocouples, load cells — they all produce tiny voltages that need amplification before a microcontroller can read them. A Type K thermocouple generates roughly 41 µV per degree Celsius. At 200°C, that's only 8.2 mV. At room temperature... about 1 mV.

When you're designing a system that combines a FIRGELLI actuator with environmental sensors, you're working across a huge voltage range. The actuator runs on 12,000 mV while the sensor outputs 0–100 mV. That's a 120:1 ratio. Keeping signal wires away from motor power wires isn't optional — it's essential for noise rejection. Use shielded cables for millivolt signals and keep them physically separated from the actuator's power leads.

Millivolt Precision in Position Feedback

Millivolt precision matters in feedback actuator position sensing. Our actuators with built-in potentiometer feedback output a voltage proportional to extension — small voltage differences represent real position changes. A typical feedback actuator with a 100 mm stroke and a 0–3.3V output range gives you 33 mV per millimeter of travel. If your ADC has 10-bit resolution on a 3.3V reference, each count equals about 3.2 mV — roughly 0.1 mm of position resolution.

That's where voltage unit conversion stops being academic and starts being practical. You need to know that a 50 mV change on your feedback pin means the actuator moved about 1.5 mm. You need to filter out noise below a few millivolts so it doesn't trigger false position readings. And when your datasheet lists feedback linearity as ±0.5% of full scale, you should be able to calculate that's ±16.5 mV — and decide whether that's tight enough for your application.

Converting between µV, mV, and V isn't just a math exercise. It's how you bridge the gap between the high-power actuator world and the low-signal sensing world — and get both working reliably in the same system.

Advanced Example

Scenario: You're reading a feedback potentiometer on a 24V FIRGELLI actuator. The actuator's feedback circuit outputs 0.5V to 4.5V across its full 200 mm stroke. Your microcontroller's 12-bit ADC uses a 5V reference. You measure a raw ADC value of 2,048 counts and need to determine the actuator's position.

Step 1 — Convert ADC counts to volts:
Voltage = (2,048 ÷ 4,096) × 5V = 2.5V

Step 2 — Express in millivolts for precision analysis:
2.5V × (1 ÷ 0.001) = 2,500 mV

Step 3 — Calculate position from feedback range:
Feedback range: 4.5V − 0.5V = 4.0V = 4,000 mV
Current offset: 2,500 mV − 500 mV = 2,000 mV
Position = (2,000 mV ÷ 4,000 mV) × 200 mm = 100 mm (50% extended)

Step 4 — Determine position resolution:
ADC resolution: 5V ÷ 4,096 = 1.22 mV per count
Stroke sensitivity: 4,000 mV ÷ 200 mm = 20 mV/mm
Position resolution: 1.22 mV ÷ 20 mV/mm = 0.061 mm per count

Step 5 — Express ADC noise floor in microvolts:
±1 LSB noise = ±1.22 mV = ±1,220 µV
This corresponds to ±0.061 mm of position uncertainty.

Design interpretation: At 12-bit resolution, you're getting sub-0.1 mm position accuracy from a simple potentiometer feedback — more than enough for most automation tasks. But if electrical noise exceeds ±2–3 LSBs (roughly ±3,660 µV), your effective resolution degrades. That's your signal to add a simple moving-average filter in software or add a small ceramic capacitor across the feedback output.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do FIRGELLI actuators use 12V or 24V instead of other voltages? +

These are the most widely available DC power sources. 12V matches automotive and marine batteries, small solar systems, and common bench supplies. 24V is the standard for industrial control systems and PLCs. Designing around these voltages means you won't struggle to find a compatible power supply for your project.

What's the difference between mV and µV — when does it actually matter? +

1 mV equals 1,000 µV. The distinction matters when you're working with very low-level signals — thermocouples, strain gauges, or high-precision feedback sensors. If your signal is in the microvolt range, you need instrumentation-grade amplifiers and shielded wiring. In the millivolt range, standard op-amps and careful layout are usually sufficient.

Can I run a 12V actuator on 24V or vice versa? +

No. Running a 12V actuator on 24V will double the voltage across the motor windings, causing excessive current draw, overheating, and likely permanent damage. Running a 24V actuator on 12V won't damage it, but you'll get significantly reduced speed and force — often not enough to be useful. Always match the supply to the actuator's rated voltage.

Does this converter handle AC voltages too? +

The unit conversion math is identical for AC and DC — a volt is a volt regardless of whether it's alternating or direct current. However, this converter doesn't account for RMS vs. peak vs. peak-to-peak distinctions in AC signals. If you're converting AC voltage measurements, make sure you know which type of reading you're starting with.

When would I ever need megavolts? +

Most DIY and industrial projects never touch megavolt territory. MV shows up in high-voltage power transmission, lightning research, and particle accelerators. We include it in the converter for completeness and because some electrical engineering coursework and reference materials use it. For actuator and sensor work, you'll live in the mV to V range.

My multimeter reads millivolts but my datasheet uses volts — is rounding safe? +

It depends on the context. For power supply voltages — say reading 12,050 mV and calling it 12V — rounding is perfectly fine. But for sensor signals where a few millivolts represent real measurement differences, you should keep the full precision. A good rule: if the millivolt digits affect your system's behavior or control decisions, don't round them away.

How do voltage drops in wiring affect these conversions? +

This converter changes units — it doesn't account for voltage drop, which is a separate calculation based on wire gauge, length, and current. If your 12V supply delivers only 11.2V at the actuator due to wiring losses, you should convert 11.2V (the actual voltage at the load), not 12V. Measure at the point of use for accurate results.

About the Author

Robbie Dickson — Chief Engineer & Founder, FIRGELLI Automations

Robbie Dickson brings over two decades of engineering expertise to FIRGELLI Automations. With a distinguished career at Rolls-Royce, BMW, and Ford, he has deep expertise in mechanical systems, actuator technology, and precision engineering.

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