The millivolt (mV) is a unit of electric potential difference equal to one-thousandth of a volt. It plays a crucial role in the realms of electronics and engineering, particularly in the measurement of small voltage changes in sensors and delicate circuits. To put its scale into perspective, consider that the tiny electrical signals coursing through our hearts operate in the millivolt range, enabling electrocardiograms (EKGs) to capture and assess heart activity with precision.
In the natural world, millivolts are pivotal in understanding bioelectrical processes. For instance, the electric organs of certain fish, like the electric eel, generate massive electrical discharges, but the subtle control signals that trigger these bursts are managed on a millivolt scale. This showcases the delicate yet powerful interplay of electricity in both biological and technological systems.
The volt, named after the Italian physicist Alessandro Volta, is the derived unit for electric potential, electric potential difference (voltage), and electromotive force. Introduced in the late 19th century, the volt has driven technological advancements by enabling the precise quantification of electricity. While the volt may seem like a concept limited to engineers and scientists, it provides insights into everyday devices: a single AA battery typically delivers 1.5 volts, while a car battery operates around 12 volts.
Interestingly, the human body also operates on electrical principles. Nerve impulses, for instance, are transmitted through electrical signals typically ranging from 50 to 100 millivolts. This makes the volt not just a unit of measurement in the industrial and scientific realms but also a fundamental part of our biology and an integral force in powering the modern world.
| Millivolts | Volts |
|---|---|
0
mV
|
0
V
|
10
mV
|
0.01
V
|
20
mV
|
0.02
V
|
30
mV
|
0.03
V
|
40
mV
|
0.04
V
|
50
mV
|
0.05
V
|
60
mV
|
0.06
V
|
70
mV
|
0.07
V
|
80
mV
|
0.08
V
|
90
mV
|
0.09
V
|
100
mV
|
0.1
V
|
110
mV
|
0.11
V
|
120
mV
|
0.12
V
|
130
mV
|
0.13
V
|
140
mV
|
0.14
V
|
150
mV
|
0.15
V
|
160
mV
|
0.16
V
|
170
mV
|
0.17
V
|
180
mV
|
0.18
V
|
190
mV
|
0.19
V
|
200
mV
|
0.2
V
|
210
mV
|
0.21
V
|
220
mV
|
0.22
V
|
230
mV
|
0.23
V
|
240
mV
|
0.24
V
|
250
mV
|
0.25
V
|
260
mV
|
0.26
V
|
270
mV
|
0.27
V
|
280
mV
|
0.28
V
|
290
mV
|
0.29
V
|
300
mV
|
0.3
V
|
310
mV
|
0.31
V
|
320
mV
|
0.32
V
|
330
mV
|
0.33
V
|
340
mV
|
0.34
V
|
350
mV
|
0.35
V
|
360
mV
|
0.36
V
|
370
mV
|
0.37
V
|
380
mV
|
0.38
V
|
390
mV
|
0.39
V
|
400
mV
|
0.4
V
|
410
mV
|
0.41
V
|
420
mV
|
0.42
V
|
430
mV
|
0.43
V
|
440
mV
|
0.44
V
|
450
mV
|
0.45
V
|
460
mV
|
0.46
V
|
470
mV
|
0.47
V
|
480
mV
|
0.48
V
|
490
mV
|
0.49
V
|
500
mV
|
0.5
V
|
510
mV
|
0.51
V
|
520
mV
|
0.52
V
|
530
mV
|
0.53
V
|
540
mV
|
0.54
V
|
550
mV
|
0.55
V
|
560
mV
|
0.56
V
|
570
mV
|
0.57
V
|
580
mV
|
0.58
V
|
590
mV
|
0.59
V
|
600
mV
|
0.6
V
|
610
mV
|
0.61
V
|
620
mV
|
0.62
V
|
630
mV
|
0.63
V
|
640
mV
|
0.64
V
|
650
mV
|
0.65
V
|
660
mV
|
0.66
V
|
670
mV
|
0.67
V
|
680
mV
|
0.68
V
|
690
mV
|
0.69
V
|
700
mV
|
0.7
V
|
710
mV
|
0.71
V
|
720
mV
|
0.72
V
|
730
mV
|
0.73
V
|
740
mV
|
0.74
V
|
750
mV
|
0.75
V
|
760
mV
|
0.76
V
|
770
mV
|
0.77
V
|
780
mV
|
0.78
V
|
790
mV
|
0.79
V
|
800
mV
|
0.8
V
|
810
mV
|
0.81
V
|
820
mV
|
0.82
V
|
830
mV
|
0.83
V
|
840
mV
|
0.84
V
|
850
mV
|
0.85
V
|
860
mV
|
0.86
V
|
870
mV
|
0.87
V
|
880
mV
|
0.88
V
|
890
mV
|
0.89
V
|
900
mV
|
0.9
V
|
910
mV
|
0.91
V
|
920
mV
|
0.92
V
|
930
mV
|
0.93
V
|
940
mV
|
0.94
V
|
950
mV
|
0.95
V
|
960
mV
|
0.96
V
|
970
mV
|
0.97
V
|
980
mV
|
0.98
V
|
990
mV
|
0.99
V
|
1000
mV
|
1
V
|
| Conversion | Call to Action |
|---|---|
| Millivolts to Microvolts | Go to converter |
| Millivolts to Kilovolts | Go to converter |
| Millivolts to Megavolts | Go to converter |