Electrical voltage

Volts are the unit of measurement used for the strength of a electrical current.

The greater the voltage, the stronger the current.

In electrical wires and electric circuits this works a little like water pressure in a pipe. The greater the water pressure the more water moves through the pipe during a given period of time.

To carry high voltages, special high-voltage electrical transmission lines are required, just as you’d need a larger pipe to carry more water.

Compare the volts

Source	Voltage
Household batteries	1.5 volts
A car battery	12 volts
Lines bringing electrical supply into your house	240 volts
Sub-transmission network taking power to the suburbs	11,000 volts (11 kilovolts (kV))
High-voltage transmission lines	132,000 – 500,000 volts (132 – 500 kV)
Lightning	Up to 300 million volts!