In a related question about the term for "mains" in the US (here), it was determined to be more often called a "grid" or "line-power".
My question is: If in let's say a customized car, that uses 12v, 120v, 24v, and the normal 5v for accessories, are all of them considered "mains"? If I build a robot that runs on 12v, but put in voltage regulator for parts that require 5v, are those still the mains?
In shorter, is "Mains" a standard for the whole grid regardless of voltage, or only the main rail before the voltage jumps or drops?
I'm sorry if this belongs in another section, I just thought I'd put it in the same as the related category.
Best Answer
Typical electrical/electronic terminology for the main eg 12V power supply running through a device is "power bus", or simply "bus". Where multiple power supply voltages are present they would be, eg, "12V bus" and "5V bus". I suspect that this terminology is used by techies even in the UK, and it's certainly well-established in the US.
(Note that "bus", by itself, implies nothing about the voltage involved -- it could be a 5V bus or a 5000V bus. Whether the bus is dangerous to be near is up to the individual to determine based on available information on the bus's voltage and current capabilities.)
Alas, there is no simple agreed-on term in the US that conveys the meaning of UK's "mains" in a house or other building. In the US a "main" is a water or gas main, never electrical. Terms like "line power" are used.