Open circuit voltage

The open-circuit voltage is the electrical voltage at the terminals of a voltage source when no load is connected and therefore no load current is flowing.

In electrical devices such as transformers, the open-circuit voltage corresponds to the output voltage in the unloaded state. As no current flows, there are no voltage-related losses in the cables or windings.

The open-circuit voltage is an important parameter for assessing the operating behavior and serves as a reference for comparison with the voltage under load.