dB or deciBel is used to express the ratio of two power values on a logarithmic scale.
V/m or Volt per meter is a unit of measurement used to quantify the strength or intensity of an electric field at a specific point in space.
dB is a ratio and it cannot be converted to V/m which is an absolute number.
However a related quantity dBV/m can be converted to V/m
Note the suffix V/m. It’s important that this be included. The formula for this conversion is V/m = 10((dBV/m) / 20)
Use the calculator below to find V/m from dBV/m
Formula
dBV/m, dBmV/m, dBµV/m, dBnV/m can all be converted to V/m using the following:
- V/m = 10(((dBnV/m) – 180) / 20)
- V/m = 10(((dBµV/m) – 120) / 20)
- V/m = 10(((dBmV/m) – 60) / 20)
- V/m = 10((dBV/m) / 20)
Example Calculation
- 10 dBV/m converts to 3.16 V/m
- 10 dBµV/m converts to 3.16 * 10-6 V/m or 3.16 µV/m
Background
Volts per meter (V/m) is a unit of measurement used to quantify the strength or intensity of an electric field at a specific point in space. It represents the electric potential gradient or the rate at which the electric potential (voltage) changes over a given distance.
deciBel Volt-per-meter (dBV/m) too represents the strength or intensity of an electric field at a specific point in space. The difference is dBV/m uses a logarithmic scale, which makes it easier to represent and compare a wide range of field strengths.
Application
Where is dBV/m used?
The unit is used by the FCC to specify radiation limits from electronic equipment. As example is shown in the picture below
