Definition
The voltage measured from the highest positive peak of an alternating current (AC) waveform to the lowest negative peak of the same waveform. It represents the total vertical span of the waveform, not the value above or below zero alone.
Plain English
It's the full distance between the top of the wave and the bottom of the wave in an AC signal — the total swing from highest point to lowest point.
Context Anchor
Seen in aircraft electrical and avionics troubleshooting, especially when a changing signal is viewed or measured with test equipment.
Derivation
Peak means the highest point of something. Peak-to-peak literally means measured from one peak to the other — in this case, from the top of the wave to the bottom.
Why Pilots Care
Verifies correct signal strength in aircraft communication, navigation, and electrical equipment.
Analogy
Think of an ocean wave. The peak-to-peak measurement is the distance from the very top of the crest down to the very bottom of the trough — the full height of the wave, not just how high it rises above flat water.
Grounding Statement
If a signal rises to +5 volts and falls to -5 volts, its peak-to-peak voltage is 10 volts.
Intuition Check
Peak-to-peak voltage is not just the highest voltage. It is the distance from the highest voltage to the lowest voltage.
Example Sentence 1
The technician measured a peak-to-peak voltage of 340 volts on the aircraft's AC bus.
Example Sentence 2
A drop in peak-to-peak voltage on the audio panel pointed to a wiring issue.