What Do Watts, Volts, Amps, and Ohms Mean?
Before getting into the individual specifics, it is important to know how the standards for all of these are governed. The Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM), is a French organization that makes the standards of weights and measures for the entire world to follow. The official definitions are found in the BIPM book International System of Units (SI).
Also, to help understand electricity more easily, a water flow analogy is often used. The water flow in a closed-pipe system, or “circuit,” must flow in a continuous pattern to work properly.
What are Volts?
Volts as defined by BIPM is "the potential difference between two points of a conducting wire carrying a constant current of 1 ampere, when the power dissipated between these points is equal to 1 watt." Using the water analogy, voltage, like water pressure flowing through the pipes, is the speed at which electrons pass a point along the circuit. Volts are symbolized by a capital “V.”
What Are Amps?
Amps or amperes are symbolized by a capital “A.” Amps measure the electrical current or volume of electrons in the circuit. Amperage is the strength of that current shown in amperes. An example of this is the 1,000-watt microwave in your home will equal about 8.3 amps. A bolt of lightning from a storm can have almost 20,000 amps. The electrical wiring for your home is usually rated for 15 or 20 amps.
What are Watts?
Watts are a measure of the power flow rate through the system. This measure is a product of an amp flowing through an electrical difference of one volt. The equation for voltage conversion to watts is Volts x Amps = Watts, with watts symbolized by a “W.” The flow of water through a firehose or the speed of your car are practical parallels for watts.
What Are Ohms?
SI defines ohms as a measurement of the resistance that any object, device or materials can cause to reduce the electrical flow. Using the water example again, a small water pipe will have greater resistance on water flow than a large diameter pipe will, thus a small pipe would have higher ohms if measured accordingly. Ohms are signified by the Greek symbol for Omega.
What Part Do Watts, Amps and Volts Play In Everyday Life?
Although they may not be top of mind on a daily or weekly basis, watts, volts and amps all play a part in how we go about our day. They help our appliances work efficiently, power tools and outdoor equipment, and light our homes. An easy way to think of this is:
- Amps equals the strength of the current flowing through the system. For power tool batteries higher amp hours can mean a longer runtime.
- Voltage is the force that makes the current flow. For power tool batteries, higher volts can provide higher capacity and a longer battery life.
- Watts is the product of amps times volts. It can show you how much energy will be used by an appliance over a period of time. An example is a 1,000-watt microwave will use double the electricity but can produce double the heat that a 500-watt microwave can.
The average home might use about 29,000 watts per day. Common household items and appliances can have wattage ratings from 65 watts for a ceiling fan, up to 1,000 watts for your coffee maker, 2,500 watts for a stove or oven, and from 1,000 to up to 4,000 watts for a clothes washer or dryer.
For power tool batteries, voltage and amp hours are the key measurements. Higher voltage platforms can mean more power for the job. Higher amp hours can mean longer runtimes versus lesser amp hour models.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions on watts and volts.
What is stronger watts or volts?
Watts are a measurement of electrical power. Volts signify electrical potential. Thus watts are measuring the energy being used and are stronger than volts.
What is the difference between voltage and wattage?
Wattage is the amount of power an electric device will use to operate itself and is measured in watts. Think of this like a 60-watt light bulb. Voltage is the power that comes from the United States electrical grid, which is either 120-volts or 240-volts. Most household items will be at 120-volts while large appliances will be 240-volts.
Does higher watts mean more power?
Simply put, yes. Higher wattage appliances, for example, can
deliver more power and heat than ones having half the wattage. Higher wattage
devices however will also use more energy than lesser watt models.
How many amps are in a volt?
Amps and volts are different measurements of differing aspects of electrical current and are not directly convertible. Volts measure electrical potential and amps measure the current flow.