One of the main foundations of engineering is understanding how electrical power is measured and converted.
This interactive calculator can help you go from watts to volt amperes and over 60 additional power units in no time. Just select your starting unit, ending unit, and add an amount to convert in the field above.
But what happens if you need to change your watts to volts? This question and answer guide talks about watts, volts, and the conversion steps between the two.
The equations can be more complex, but basically, the power in an electric system (known as P) equals the volts multiplied by the currents.
Where:
A watt can best be defined as an SI unit of power. Each watt equals one joule per second.
In terms of the power in an electric circuit, its the difference of one volt and the current one ampere. We use watts to measure electrical power.
A volt is also a type of measurement used for defining the amount of electricity. A volt is best defined as an SI unit of electromotive force.
It's the variation of potential from one ampere of current against one ohm of resistance.
Imagine it this way. Picture electricity as a type of flow, kind of like water. Now imagine that the electrons are a conductor, similar to a wire.
The measured rate of the electricity flow is called the electric current. Now we can measure that electric flow through different forms of metrics (think about centimeters vs. inches).
Volts and watts are both forms of measurement for this current but are taken differently.
You may want to convert watts to volts when replicating an item that needs the same electrical force in a different type of current.
Different electric engineering projects may request a formula based on volts when the original formula was based upon watts.
Being able to easily convert these concepts is a vital part of accurate equations.
To convert watts to volts you'll want the following:
An ammeter is a specific measuring tool used primarily for measuring currents.
If you don't have one you can usually purchase one online. Look through reviews for ammeters that offer fullscale deflection, internal or coil resistance, and a strong accuracy.
Ammeters price range can start as low as $5 and can go as high as $50 depending on the kind you're looking for.
First, it's important to understand that volts and watts are two pieces of a triad (along with amps) in which two amounts can be calculated.
In order to do this, you want to work with the following formula:
Now, this is where it gets more complicated so we suggest taking it step by step.
You're going to start by putting the AC ammeter near a power wire in the AC circuit.
This doesn't have to be a hot wire, a neutral common wire found in the circuit can also work. Either wire will effectively carry the current.
Now that you have a carrier for the current, convert the wattage of 1000 watts for circuits with an amperage of 10 amperes.
Next, translate your measurements into the formula to get the current equivalent in volts. This can be done in the following way:
By dividing 1000 watts by 10 amperes, you are looking for results equal to 100 volts.
Using Ammeters is a relatively similar process. Just start by installing the inline ammeter to the DC circuit.
You can do this by putting the meter on any one of the electrical wires
Remember, the meter can be put on negative wires as well as positive wires, the measurement will still be accurate. You want to make sure that the power is passing through the ammeter.
It's important to remember while handling you ammeter that you are dealing with an electric current and it can be potentially dangerous.
By being aware of the signs, you can keep yourself safe and out of harm's way. To monitor your safety at all times be aware of the following signs:
If you're looking to save time and energy you'd otherwise spend on performing formulas, we suggest trying out an online calculator.
You want to make sure that the online calculator you choose offers various measurement options as well as accuracy.
Our power calculator allows you to easily convert watts to other power units in addition to performing a number of complex equations.
If you need to perform even more equations to complete an engineering job or project, just scroll through our extensive calculator list to find the right calculator for your needs.
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