Voltage Divider Calculator
A fundamental tool for electronics design. Quickly calculate the output voltage from a voltage divider circuit made of two resistors.
The Building Block of Electronics
The voltage divider is one of the most fundamental and widely used circuits in all of electronics. Its purpose is simple: to turn a larger voltage into a smaller one. This is achieved by connecting two resistors in series. The output voltage is taken from the point between the two resistors. This simple circuit is the basis for countless applications, from providing a reference voltage for a sensor to reading the position of a potentiometer (like a volume knob).
The Voltage Divider Formula
The principle behind the voltage divider is Ohm's Law. The output voltage (Vout) is directly proportional to the input voltage (Vin) and the ratio of the resistors.
Vout = Vin × (R2 / (R1 + R2))
Where:
- Vout is the output voltage, measured across resistor R2.
- Vin is the input voltage applied across both resistors.
- R1 is the resistor connected to the input voltage source.
- R2 is the resistor connected to ground, across which the output is measured.