Nominal Voltage

Nominal voltage is the named, approximate voltage level thatidentifies and classifies electrical systems, devices, or batteries, such as a12V battery or a 120V outlet. Rather than the exact, instantaneous voltage, thenominal voltage provides a reference point for normal operation, where theactual operating voltage will often differ slightly and may measure a differentvalue when fully charged. In batteries, the nominal voltage represents theaverage voltage during a discharge cycle, instead of the peak or maximumvoltage.