How To Tell If You Have 60 Or 100 Amp Service

Rik is an engineer who has held a range of marketing, technical support, and management roles. He is also a qualified instructor.

Welcome to your guide to the basics of electricity.

The four most basic physical quanities in electricity are:

• Voltage (V)
• Current (I)
• Resistance (R)
• Ability (P)

Each of these quantities are measured using dissimilar units:

• Voltage is measured in volts (V)
• Current is measured in amps (A)
• Resistance is measured in ohms (Ω)
• Ability is measured in watts (W)

Electrical ability, or the wattage of an electrical arrangement, is always equal to the voltage multiplied by the current.

A system of h2o pipes is often used as an analogy to help people understand how these units of electricity work together. In this illustration, voltage is equivalent to water force per unit area, current is equivalent to flow charge per unit and resistance is equivalent to pipe size.

In electrical engineering, there is a basic equation that explains how voltage, current and resistance relate. This equation, written below, is known as Ohm'due south police force.

Ohm's Law

5 = I x R

Ohm'southward law states that voltage is equal to the current flowing in a excursion times the resistance of the circuit.

One mode of understanding Ohm's constabulary is to utilize it to the imaginary plumbing organisation we've employed as a representation of an electrical system.

Let'south say we have a tank of water attached to a hose. If we increment the force per unit area in the tank, more than water volition come out of the hose. Thus, if we increase the voltage in an electrical arrangement, we volition too increase the current.

If we make the diameter of the hose smaller, resistance volition increase, causing less water to come out of the hose. Thus, if nosotros increase the resistance in an electric system, we will decrease the current.

With this brief introduction of the workings of an electric system, permit'southward jump into each of the units of electricity separately and learn about them in more detail.

Ringlet to Continue

Read More than From Owlcation

The image to a higher place depicts a simple electrical circuit with a bulb, some wire, and a battery.

What Are Volts?

Volts are the base unit used to measure Voltage. One volt is defined every bit the "difference in electric potential betwixt two points of a conducting wire when an electric electric current of ane ampere dissipates i watt of power between those points." The volt is named subsequently the Italian physicist Alessandro Volta.

In our battery diagram above, the battery provides what is known every bit a potential difference in an electric circuit, or voltage. If we go back to our h2o analogy, the bombardment is like a water pump that propels water through a pipe. The pump increases the pressure in the pipe, causing the water to flow.

In electrical engineering, we call this electrical force per unit area voltage and measure it in volts. A voltage of three volts can be written as 3V.

As the number of volts increases, the current increases likewise. Merely in order for the current to menses, the electrical conductor or wire must loop back to the battery. If we intermission the circuit, with a switch for example, and then no current will menstruation.

In that location are standard voltage outputs for everyday objects like batteries and household outlets. In the United States, the standard voltage output for a household outlet is 120V. In Europe, the standard voltage output for a household outlet is 230V. Other standard voltage outputs are listed in the table below.

Mutual Voltages

Object	Voltage
Single-cell, rechargeable battery	ane.2V
Single-cell, non-rechargeable battery	1.5V–i.56V
USB	5V
Automobile battery	2.1V per jail cell
Electric vehicle bombardment	400V
Household outlet (Japan)	100V
Household outlet (Due north America)	120V
Household outlet (Europe, Asia, Africa, Commonwealth of australia)	230V
Rapid transit third rail	600V–750V
High-voltage electric ability lines	110,000V
Lightning	100,000,000V

What Are Amps?

The ampere, frequently shortened to "amp" or A, is the base unit of electric current in the International System of Units. It is named after the French mathematician and physicist André-Marie Ampère, who is considered the male parent of electrodynamics.

Electricity consists of the flow of electrons through a conductor, for example, an electric wire or cable. We measure the rate of flow of electricity as an electrical current (but as we think of the rate of flow of water in a river as the river current). The letter used to represent current in an equation is I.

Electric current is measured in Amperes, shortened to Amps or simply the letter of the alphabet A.

A electric current of 2 Amps can be written as 2A. The bigger the current the more electricity is flowing.

The International System of Units (SI) defines amps as follows:

"The ampere is that abiding current which, if maintained in two directly parallel conductors of infinite length, of negligible circular cantankerous-section, and placed one metre autonomously in a vacuum, would produce between these conductors a strength equal to 2×10⁻⁷ newtons per metre of length."

Electrical Current Demonstration (Video)

What Are Ohms?

Ohms are the base unit of measurement of resistance in an electrical organisation. The ohm is defined as "an electric resistance between two points of a conductor when a constant potential deviation of one volt, applied to these points, produces in the conductor a current of one ampere, the usher not being the seat of whatever electromotive force." The ohm is named after the German language physicist Georg Simon Ohm.

Resistance is measured in ohms, or Ω (omega), for short. So, five ohms can be written 5Ω.

In our battery diagram above, if we remove the bulb and reconnected the wire and then the bombardment was brusk circuited, the wire and battery would go very hot and the bombardment would soon be apartment because there would be virtually no resistance in the excursion. Without any resistance, a huge electrical current would flow until the bombardment was empty.

Once we add a seedling to the circuit, resistance is created. At that place is now a local "blockage" (or narrowing of the pipage, per our h2o pipe analogy) where the electric current experiences some resistance. This greatly reduces the current flowing in the circuit, and so the energy in the battery is released more than slowly.

Equally the battery forces the electric current through the bulb, the battery's energy is released in the bulb in the form of light and heat. In other words, the current carries stored energy from the bombardment to the bulb, where it is turned into light and heat free energy.

The image above shows a calorie-free bulb every bit the main cause of electrical resistance.

What Are Watts?

A watt is the base unit of measurement of ability in electrical systems. It can also be used in mechanical systems. It measures how much free energy is released per 2nd in a system. In our battery diagram, the size of both the voltage and the current in the bulb determine how much energy is released.

In the diagram above, the lite bulb would get brighter as the power, measured in watts, increases.

Nosotros can calculate the power released in the bulb, and of the electrical system as a whole, by multiplying the voltage past the current. So, to calculate watts, the following formula is used.

How to Calculate Watts

W = V * I

For case, a current of 2A flowing through a seedling with a voltage of 12V across information technology generates 24W of ability.

How to Calculate with Watts, Amps, Volts, and Ohms

If you desire to do an electrical calculation involving voltage, current, resistance, or power, reference the formulae circumvolve below. For case, we can calculate the power in watts by referencing the yellow surface area in the circle.

This formulae circle is very useful for many electrical applied science tasks. Keep information technology handy the next time you are dealing with an electric system.

Below are some example equations that are solved using the formulae.

Case Equations

1. What is the electric current in an electrical circuit with a voltage of 120V and 12Ω of resistance?

I = V/R

I = 120/12

I = 10A

The current in an electrical circuit with a voltage of 120V and 12Ω of resistance is 10A.

two. What is the voltage across an electrical excursion with a electric current of 10A and 200Ω of resistance?

V = I x R

V = 10 10 200

V = 2000V

The current in an electric system with 10A and 200Ω of resistance is 2000V.

3. What is the resistance in an electrical system with a voltage of 230V and a current of 5A?

R = V/I

R = 230/5

R = 46Ω

The resistance in an electrical organisation with 230V and 50A is 46Ω.

Formulae circle for solving electric unit equations.

In Conclusion

Later reading this article, yous hopefully have a better understanding of the difference between electrical current, voltage, resistance, and electric ability. Recall that if y'all know any two of the concrete values in the formulae circle then you lot can calculate each of the other two unknown values.

Bones Electricity Tutorial (Video)

Electricity Quiz

For each question, choose the all-time answer. The answer fundamental is below.

1. If I connect a 120V supply to a 60W seedling, what current would flow in the circuit?
   • 1A
   • 2A
   • 0.5A
   • 5A
2. If a 3V battery is continued to a seedling and a electric current of 1.5A flows through it then what is the rating of the bulb?
   • 3W
   • 2W
   • iv.5W
   • 0.5W

Answer Central

1. 0.5A
2. 4.5W

Interpreting Your Score

If you got 0 correct answers: Mayhap you lot need to reread this article?

If you lot got 1 right answer: Do you come across where you lot went wrong?

If you got ii correct answers: Well done. You lot certainly know Watt is Watt!

Questions & Answers

Question: What is the resistance of the heating element of an electric iron if the ampere draw is viii amperes when 115 volts are applied?

Reply: R= Five/I = 115/8 = 14.four Amps

Question: Can I run two appliances at the same time when the max amps available is 5A? One requires 3 amp, and the other requires 4.xv amp.

Reply: The answer is no. The full current drawn is 7.15 Amps. This would overload a 5A socket, and result in a 5A fuse bravado or a 5A circuit billow existence triggered.

© 2009 Rik Ravado

Robert on May 26, 2020:

Very informative and helpful.

James Watt on Apr 23, 2020:

"and Watts are named after Scottish inventor and mathematician James Watt"

Dennis on April 09, 2020:

Very useful, insight

CR7 on March 24, 2020:

Blurry images

Rooprick on November 22, 2019:

I'm trying to attach a cork to my Fork so when I swallow I don't hurt myself or others how practice I do that

brit on November 21, 2019:

cool

Branson on September 24, 2019:

I am trying to design a bombardment power led light strip. My question is if my led controller is 12v, what amperage 12v bombardment supply can I use? 2A? 4A? 6A?

remlalnghaka on September 21, 2019:

very interesting

Rahimullah Sahak on August 02, 2019:

hi dear thinks for your good and a best incarnation I have one question what is the spicefication of wire and his color and his cade

ubaid on July 31, 2019:

how much units will be comsumed by an electronic device of 3 amps per 60 minutes

manivannan on July 18, 2019:

thaks to all informations

Ghulab hameed on May 15, 2019:

sir plz tell me how we know a device how many voltage applied and which condination volition exist prove?

Krystal on May 14, 2019:

Trying to get the reply to this question can everyone assist me please demand if by the moring for school

1. Question:

I=.5amps,R=50phms,P=

Heidy on April 01, 2019:

thank y'all for explaining the basics of electricity. It make sense at present

Asitya on March 20, 2019:

Overnice information technology'due south so easy

COOPER IS Uncomplicated on February 11, 2019:

Cooper said he's existence simple but he'south using highly unnecessary "large" words and it is stupidly simply annoying.

robert cannon on Jan 21, 2019:

I don't care about modest electrical quiz I what one question answered what gauge wire is needed to hook up a welder rated at 230 volts 220 amps as far as I got every bit it is with electricity is this high a amperage will kill y'all

Aamir on January 17, 2019:

very well explained.

yoyo on November 05, 2018:

thanks !..it was interesting.

Cooper on October xxx, 2018:

And so nosotros know plugging an extension into some other extension (and having load being drawn from said setup) will (perhaps) hit the maximum immune Amperage/Wattage for that extension and burn down it out...

Only we can accept multiple devices like Fridges, Freezers, Television receiver's, Irons, etc, etc... Each on their own "Plug Socket" merely aren't the Plug Sockets substantially merely 'extensions' of the house Mains? -

Presuming my respond is probably available on the firm's Principal Fuse Board?... I'm curious to inquire how ane would summate the Maximum Potential Amperage & Wattage load of one's unabridged house!

I know I could add together up all my devices and calculate 'My Specific Full Draw' only how much further 'til I hitting the 'maximum for my residence'?

The answer is probably stupidly simple, only I'm being stupidly unproblematic at the moment then such an respond would exist warranted :D

- Cooper

Sanju pradhan on October 18, 2018:

It's very helpful to me for my studies.

Oh ya daddy on Oct 10, 2018:

Thank you helpful

Liam on October 05, 2018:

Very Interesting, thankyou!

hi infant on July 03, 2018:

very good and very helpful

Brunsrm on April 02, 2018:

Can I run ii appliances at the same fourth dimension when the max electric provided is 5 amps? Ane requires 4.12 A and the other requires 3 A.

Thanks for your assist

Taylor on March 27, 2018:

I had to do a speech on inventions that changed the quality of life. I chose electricity. This website helped.

Prabhjot on March 17, 2018:

Thanks a lot for pedagogy us in easy ways so we could understand cheers :)

Hendrik on Feb 25, 2018:

Ω my god, 31 years onetime and finally sympathize the basics!

Gabe on Feb 23, 2018:

This make me understand how does volts and wats work. Before i cant do the divergence betwixt volts and watts.

I love Yucheng Jade Shao on January 23, 2018:

This was an astonishing presentation and it helped me alot to understand volts, Amps, Ohms, and Watts!

David on January fifteen, 2018:

This is an excellent video that I highly recommend for all beginners like me. I now have a good basic agreement of how electricity works in our everyday world. Thanks!

ramesh kumar verma on January 01, 2018:

pleas help me how sympathize electricity ie wattage, volts and amps, how to increase amps & decrease in the circuit

a random guy on December fifteen, 2017:

a skele-TON of information, thanks.

a random guy on December 15, 2017:

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Examples used in teaching were the best i read so far.Thank yous so much :)

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zulfiqar Ahmad on October 25, 2017:

Very nice

Due south Kanda on October 21, 2017:

It helped me to sympathise electricity ie wattage, volts and amps, improve than books.

D.bell on October 04, 2017:

This helped a lot thank you

mehul lavri on September 26, 2017:

good presentation

asif javed on September 12, 2017:

vivid description almost electricity

J. R. on September 08, 2017:

Very good presentation

andrea Sherman on September 04, 2017:

I never understood how that worked. I still am sort of confused . isn't electricity measured in both particles and linear?. I took a class called physics for poets about 40 years ago. give thanks yous✌

@Jeet on Baronial 29, 2017:

Very useful thanks.

Meseret Yirdaw on May 25, 2017:

That is very squeamish.I would like to thank more than and more.Go along it up.

Ashfaq on May 24, 2017:

Very helpful page regarding understand of uncomplicated electricity

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Amazing.....Honestly speaking this is the first fourth dimension i fully understood information technology...

thks....

kira on May 03, 2017:

i really find it interesting while reading this,and I learnt alot,thanks everyone for contributing to this.

Chethan shetty on April 13, 2017:

Helps to understand even for mechanical students

Sandip Deb gupta on March 23, 2017:

Information technology'due south very good article wonderful experience

Nope on March 08, 2017:

Thanks

Rizwan on Jan 22, 2017:

Prissy explanation

DILLI SAHU on Jan 22, 2017:

Thank you Sir,

Nice n simple explanation of current, volt and watt.

lavysay on January 05, 2017:

cool

Nancy Marine on October 03, 2016:

I got 2/2 of the question, I guess I know watt is watt.

ade on October 03, 2016:

amazing, never been able to become this stuff in my Head and you've managed it so succinctly mate, thank you ever so much, Cheers

jeo on September 16, 2016:

hi at that place, i am only getting to know about electricity. and has always been confused to hell, what is Amps, Volts etc. now i understood it all.

cheers for the commodity. God Bless

SAQIB from HYDERABAD Islamic republic of pakistan on January 29, 2015:

Being engineer myself I enjoyed reading the concepts.

sanjay on December 19, 2014:

Very expert

MARJ WATSON on July 26, 2014:

Please advise this old lady if I can use Gu10 replacement bulbs with 110/220 in the uk, equally I bought them in error, thanking you in anticipation,

Marj

Someone on March 08, 2014:

That was useful cheers

santosh kumar on January twenty, 2014:

Thanks a lot for your wonderful detail explainatin. I hope it would be very helpful to all beginers. Best wishes for your blog.

Alpo on Jan 05, 2014:

Thanks for the tutorial...it has been awhile and was looking for the bones equations. Co-ordinate to your article, "A" is short for amperes or amps. After, "I" is introduced without relating information technology to amps. For clarity, y'all might add together that.

vikas pal on September x, 2013:

peachy blog

Alex on May 22, 2013:

Tin can someone help to find out 12 volt ??? w required in the given satiation?

I required 220 volt m west to run my application. i am planning to install solar console to have full fill my requirement. it involve solar panel ,12 volt battery, and ability inverter, how many watts of 12 volt console exercise i required to accept 220 volt 1000w power to run my application

Rusty on April 09, 2013:

I establish it interesting that elkangorito said no mode 120 is safer than 230 volts. And so why in England on ALL commercial work sites the max voltage used is 120? Everything is stepped down from 230 to 120.

Thank you

Kiran Chandran on October 04, 2012:

I had cleared many doubts by using this........

amped on July 17, 2012:

Very useful explanation.

saratchandra on May 25, 2012:

Expert explanation with examples

ajay on April 16, 2012:

thanks for the answer. sir please requite one more answer about transformers. I read somewhere that transformers tin can increment and decrease the voltage of a said line, then in that instance is information technology possible to subtract the incomming 220v main line of my house to say 24v and so once more increment it 220v for normal usage. will the functioning be the same and will information technology subtract the electric bill.

Rik Ravado (author) from England on April 14, 2012:

ajay - the maximum current would depend on the fuse or billow in the circuit. In theory, if y'all short circuited the 120v you could get an space current just domestic supplies unremarkably have a breaker that trips if you describe too much electric current. In the U.k., our domestic circuits typically allow yous to draw about 13A from a 3 pin plug but information technology my exist higher elsewhere, for instance the US.

ajay on Apr 14, 2012:

how do we determine the maximum limit of ampereage that can be fatigued out of a 120 volts line

Ak on Dec 28, 2011:

Thanks for the heads-up Rik. I want to implement inexpensive renewable energy, could you outline few options? Pv or solar panels are not the options where i live. I heard a lot about fuel cells, are they expensive?

Rik Ravado (writer) from England on December 22, 2011:

Ak - These products are all scams. You don't become electrical energy for zero. Y'all can catechumen mechanical energy into electric energy, a generator does this. But you lot still have to put the same amount of free energy in. Scammers sometimes talk about perpetual movement in connection with gratis energy but it doesn't exist.

Ak on December 21, 2011:

I have a question.. Can the magnetic energy exist converted to electric enegergy somehow by properly placing them on a flywheel? Rotating the flywheel using the magnetic forcefulness. In that location are lot of things going on the spider web about it. And how come they just sell guides but not the finished product.

Ak on December 21, 2011:

Clear equally crystal

Robert on December 18, 2011:

Showtime, give thanks you does not say enough for this. I am a slow learner and frontward to using this to help learn about electricity. I am finding out that information technology is not that difficult, simply similar Bert Grand commented, U+P=R. Thank you once again so much Mr. Ravado

Rik Ravado (author) from England on November 11, 2011:

Brett

Well spotted - I agree. (Changed the graphic) Thanks!

Brett on Nov x, 2011:

Shouldn't your graphic read I = sqrt(P) / R instead of I = sqrt(P) / Five?

Rik Ravado (author) from England on March 12, 2011:

Thanks for the feedback Bert - you are and then right with U+P=R.

Learning is much more effective when you put what you have learned into practice!

bert g on March 12, 2011:

thank you for the free lesson. you made it very articulate and like shooting fish in a barrel to understand. here is a smart formula i'd like to pass on to beginners like myself. U+P=R or utilization plus practice equals retention. i wish at that place had been net and google when i was a child. all-time regards teach. bk

topquark from UK on February 07, 2011:

Useful and well-presented article! A lot of people seem to get dislocated nigh Watts and Amps and Volts - an caption like this has been long overdue.

bernie on October 12, 2010:

Everyones a cridic. I understood completely and I understood that it is non on the money, and those of us who don't have to act like know it all's realize that there are factors involved that makes the math close, just there is room for error. Perchance thicknees of the wire beingness used, battery losing power, or whatsoever the reason. People chill!!! If I understood and realise this then you brain childeren should. Anal Bastards.

Kevin on October 03, 2010:

Thanks for this mate.

Helped a lot with my schoolwork. :P

Rik Ravado (writer) from England on June 09, 2010:

Thanks Peter!

Peter Enmore on June 08, 2010:

Yeah, you really tin't become the calculation it to an exact. But you can definitely get an gauge.

Rik Ravado (author) from England on February 06, 2010:

Elk

Thanks for your comments - I however maintain 120v is safer than 230v. In other words the lower the voltage, the less current potentially flows through the victim.

I agree with your 'approximately' as obviously cablevision and other elements in the circuit will further lower the current. Too the rating of the seedling or other appliance will not be precise and there will be a margin of error.

Thanks for stopping by and commenting!

elkangorito from Thailand on February 06, 2010:

Even though your weblog is an excellent "guide to the basics of electricity", in that location are a couple of things that need to exist considered:

You lot said, "In the The states, the domestic supply is typically 110V, much safer than the UK."

This is not true.

Firstly, the voltage in the Uk is officially 230v (unmarried stage, domestic).

Secondly, the voltage in the USA is 120v (domestic).

120v is in no way "safer" than 230v. A "prophylactic" voltage is considered to be less than 50v RMS (Ac) or 120v DC (ripple gratuitous). These voltages are known as "extra depression voltages" & relate to "touch voltage limits".

You likewise said: "Finally, remember that if y'all know the voltage of your ability supply so you can summate the current through a bulb, fuse or other electrical apparatus or component, based on its rating in Watts."

I call back that you meant to say, "Finally, retrieve that if you know the voltage of your ability supply and so you can APPROXIMATELY calculate the current through a seedling, fuse or other electrical apparatus or component, based on its rating in Watts."

Rik Ravado (author) from England on November 04, 2009:

LiamBean - glad you lot found it helpful!

LiamBean from Los Angeles, Calilfornia on October 23, 2009:

Lovely. Wonderful explanation of Watts, Amps, and Current.

Source: https://owlcation.com/stem/Watt-are-Amps-and-Volts

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