Body Voltage

Body voltage is the electrical potential measured between your body and a true earth ground reference, typically expressed in volts AC (VAC). In modern indoor environments, your body picks up induced voltage from the electrical wiring in your walls, electronic devices, and ambient electromagnetic fields. This induced voltage doesn't shock you because there's no current flow path, but it can be measured with a multimeter.

A typical body voltage reading in an unground person sitting on a bed in a typical bedroom ranges from 1 to 5 volts AC, sometimes higher depending on proximity to wiring and active devices. When you touch a properly grounded surface or use a working grounding sheet, body voltage drops to near zero, often below 0.1 volts.

Body voltage is the primary measurement used to verify whether a grounding sheet is actually working. The standard test from how to test if your grounding sheet is working involves measuring body voltage with the grounding cord disconnected, then with it connected. A working setup produces a clear drop close to zero.

Body voltage shouldn't be confused with body current or static charge. It's a measurement of electrical potential difference, not a measurement of how much electricity is flowing through you (which is essentially zero in normal indoor conditions).

The relationship between body voltage and grounding therapy claims is contested. Proponents argue that elevated body voltage from chronic indoor exposure may have biological effects worth mitigating. Skeptics note that the voltage levels involved are well below thresholds known to cause measurable physiological changes. The honest framing is that body voltage measurement is a verification tool for grounding products, not necessarily evidence that those products affect health outcomes.

Related terms: induced AC voltage, multimeter, three-prong outlet.