What is the difference between source voltage and load voltage?
1 Answer
Source voltage and load voltage are terms used in the context of electrical circuits and systems. They refer to different voltage values at specific points within a circuit, often in relation to a power supply and a connected load (such as a resistor, motor, or any other device).
Source Voltage:
Source voltage, also known as supply voltage or input voltage, refers to the voltage provided by a power source, such as a battery or a generator, to a circuit or system. It is the voltage level that is available at the terminals of the power supply. In many cases, the source voltage remains relatively constant and is the initial voltage value before any components in the circuit draw current.
Load Voltage:
Load voltage, on the other hand, is the voltage drop across a specific component or load within a circuit. It's the voltage level experienced by the load itself, which is the device or component that is connected to the circuit and consuming electrical energy. This voltage might differ from the source voltage due to the presence of other components (resistors, capacitors, etc.) in the circuit, as well as the current flowing through them.
In summary, the key differences between source voltage and load voltage are:
Source voltage is the initial voltage supplied by the power source to the circuit, while load voltage is the voltage experienced by the load connected to the circuit.
Source voltage is often assumed to be constant, while load voltage can vary based on the components and current flow in the circuit.
Source voltage is the potential difference across the terminals of the power supply, and load voltage is the potential difference across the terminals of the load.
It's important to note that in practical circuits, the load voltage is often slightly lower than the source voltage due to internal resistance of the power source and other factors. This voltage drop is more pronounced in cases of higher current draw.
Source Voltage:
Source voltage, also known as supply voltage or input voltage, refers to the voltage provided by a power source, such as a battery or a generator, to a circuit or system. It is the voltage level that is available at the terminals of the power supply. In many cases, the source voltage remains relatively constant and is the initial voltage value before any components in the circuit draw current.
Load Voltage:
Load voltage, on the other hand, is the voltage drop across a specific component or load within a circuit. It's the voltage level experienced by the load itself, which is the device or component that is connected to the circuit and consuming electrical energy. This voltage might differ from the source voltage due to the presence of other components (resistors, capacitors, etc.) in the circuit, as well as the current flowing through them.
In summary, the key differences between source voltage and load voltage are:
Source voltage is the initial voltage supplied by the power source to the circuit, while load voltage is the voltage experienced by the load connected to the circuit.
Source voltage is often assumed to be constant, while load voltage can vary based on the components and current flow in the circuit.
Source voltage is the potential difference across the terminals of the power supply, and load voltage is the potential difference across the terminals of the load.
It's important to note that in practical circuits, the load voltage is often slightly lower than the source voltage due to internal resistance of the power source and other factors. This voltage drop is more pronounced in cases of higher current draw.