# High voltage VS Low voltage

**URL:** https://community.electricforum.com/t/high-voltage-vs-low-voltage/1123
**Category:** EV Small Talk
**Created:** [February 12, 2009, 7:56am UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/high-voltage-vs-low-voltage/1123 "2009-02-12T07:56:50Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![popr8084](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@popr8084](https://community.electricforum.com/u/popr8084)
#### Post date: [February 12, 2009, 7:56am UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/high-voltage-vs-low-voltage/1123/1 "2009-02-12T07:56:50Z")

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Hello,  
I am new to the EV world, so I just wanted to get some opinions of others on the subject. What are some of the pro’s on con’s to using high voltage like 480v DC, vs 48v DC?

What does everyone here like to use?

Thanks!  
Josh

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### Author: ![Engineer\_Bill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b5ac83/32.png) [@Engineer\_Bill](https://community.electricforum.com/u/Engineer_Bill)
#### Post date: [February 25, 2009, 2:58pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/high-voltage-vs-low-voltage/1123/2 "2009-02-25T14:58:45Z")

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A good rule of thumb is to use the minimum voltage to do the job. I used 72 volts for mine, but I would use 96 - 144 next time. Generally AC systems use higher voltages than DC systems. Higher voltage controllers are generally more expensive. You are limited on power by voltage, so if you need more power more voltage is the way to go.