What are volts?
Volts measure electrical potential difference. Voltage provides the potential that can drive current through an electrical circuit.
What are amps?
Amperes, usually shortened to amps, measure electrical current. Current describes the rate at which electric charge flows.
What are watts?
Watts measure electrical power, which describes the rate at which electrical energy is transferred or used.
Basic DC power formula
For a simple DC calculation, power equals voltage multiplied by current.
Convert amps to watts
For example, a 12-volt load drawing 5 amps uses 60 watts under the simple DC relationship.
Convert watts to amps
A 120-watt DC load operating at 12 volts draws 10 amps under the idealized calculation.
Why AC calculations can be different
Alternating-current calculations may also involve power factor and phase configuration. Real power in an AC system therefore cannot always be determined from volts multiplied by amps alone.
Confirm whether the system is DC, single-phase AC or three-phase AC before using a power conversion formula.