genuine question

m1ck_b87 · Jun 11, 2013

Hi all I know a lot of people on this forum won't know this so I'm going to bring it up, potential difference.

Potential difference is voltage, so if I measure between live and a metal object will I get 230v. It is a difference in potential at the end of the day.

micknew · Jun 11, 2013

trev said:
And to be fair to us we're always up for a bit of sport, it's just your poor luck that you were it tonight. Don't worry though it'll be someone else tomorrow and pretty soon you'll be joining in with us. We don't mean to be nasty, it's all Tel's fault he made us do it

We have to do as Tel says!

Marvo · Jun 11, 2013

When you test across live and neutral it measures the voltage difference between the two wires and only a very small current flows through the tester because it has a very high internal resistance.

telectrix · Jun 11, 2013

when you test from L to E, a current flows through the meter. if your meter is set to volts, then it will read the voltage , or potential difference between L and E. obviously, the meter is high resistance, so the current through it is small ( mA ).

m1ck_b87 · Jun 11, 2013

Yeh makes more sense now

markythesparky · Jun 11, 2013

The voltage at each of the birds feet is the same sitting on hv cables. Voltage is the energy that 'pushes' current or as some one once said to me, the pressure. If there is no potential difference (voltage) between the birds legs then there is no way that current will flow. There is no pressure to push it.
Incidentally if you find that your bird has voltage between her legs, be very careful. There is a thread on here showing what could happen and it's very funny.

ipf · Jun 12, 2013

markythesparky said:
The voltage at each of the birds feet is the same sitting on hv cables. Voltage is the energy that 'pushes' current or as some one once said to me, the pressure. If there is no potential difference (voltage) between the birds legs then there is no way that current will flow. There is no pressure to push it.
Incidentally if you find that your bird has voltage between her legs, be very careful. There is a thread on here showing what could happen and it's very funny.

It shows she hasn't thrown her toy out of the bed.