different types of voltage delta electrical jackson

Rarely does the average person think about electricity. You get up in the morning, you flip the light switch, you unplug your cell phone that was charging all night long, and you head out the door. When you get to work, the lights are on and so is your computer. You go to the fridge to retrieve your coffee creamer that is cold to add to your coffee, and you’re ready to begin your day.

Most likely, you did not think about electricity once that day, or any other day for that matter. It’s safe to say that we take electricity for granted. However, when the power does go out and we are thrown into utter darkness, we can borderline panic. It’s hard to imagine that just over 100 years ago, electricity to homes just didn’t exist.

Delta Electric in Jackson offers the best residential and commercial electrical services in the area. Our licensed electricians can fix any electrical concern or problem you may have. Our customer service is unparalleled, and we make sure your electrical service is done right. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the different types of voltage in your electrical service. Contact us for your next home renovation and electrical project today!


Simply put, voltage is the charge behind the electricity that is entering your home. It is what is pushing the electricity into your home via the breaker box, which is usually located in your garage. Pressure from your electrical current’s power source pushes the charged electrons through the conducting loop that then will light your lightbulb, power your computer, or give life to whatever you have plugged in.

Voltage is either direct current (DC) voltage or alternating current (AC) voltage. There are some fundamental differences between the two:

  • Alternating current travels in waves; direct current travels in a straight line.
  • Alternating current travels in different directions; direct current only travels in one direction.
    Alternating current is used much more widely than direct current.
  • Direct current is mainly stored, such as in batteries.
  • Alternating current is what is usually produced by your local utility company via generators (generators produce the electricity by either flowing water or steam heated by gas, oil, coal, or nuclear power). It is first mechanical energy and then is converted to electrical energy. Some household devices, such as TVs and computers, do use DC voltage. However, they use something called a rectifier, which is a device that does convert alternating current to direct current. It is called a rectifier because it “rectifies” the waves in the currents to straight.


  1. Low voltage. Low voltage is exactly what is says: low in voltage. This voltage carries a low risk of injury and is what a lot of household electrical needs run on, such as lighting. It is highly unlikely that you would experience an electrical shock with this low voltage. Low voltage is usually under 100 volts.
  2. High voltage. High voltage is what you see on powerful transformers and the like. It is defined as anything over 100 volts and can cause serious harm. Electricians work with high voltage on a perpetual basis, and they take the necessary precautions to do so. Furthermore, the training to become an electrician, which is years to be a master electrician, is very thorough and intense so that electricians can work safely and effectively around such powerful energy. This is because accidental contact with any high voltage can result in severe injury or death.


At Delta Electrical in Jackson, all of our electricians are certified and have years of experience diagnosing and fixing residential and commercial electrical problems, from an uncooperative microwave to a freezer that just needs jolted back to life. We install wiring in new construction homes and can upgrade your old wiring in older homes. For businesses, we can wire your new TVs you want installed in your office waiting area or in your restaurant, or we can upgrade your outlets. If there is something that you suspect is an electrical problem, give us a call today. We can help!