How to Convert Watts to Amps

Amps and watts are two different units used to measure electrical power. Watts measure the energy consumed by electrical appliances, while amps measure the amount of current flowing through the electrical circuit.

Jackery Explorer Portable Power Stations have a higher wattage and amperage rating. The higher amp rating ensures you can power multiple devices simultaneously. Similarly, the higher wattage ensures the power station can charge appliances for long hours.

Jackery Explorer 2000 Pro Power Station has a higher battery capacity of 2160Wh. It has multiple ports, ensuring you can power multiple indoor and outdoor appliances. This guide will reveal how to convert watts to amps using different methods.

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What Is Watts to Amps

Watts measure electrical power or the energy generated by the amps and volts. The higher the watts are, the more power the electrical appliance consumes.

Also called volt-amps, this unit of electrical measurement is generally used in AC power circuits. For instance, if a microwave has more wattage, it will cook food faster.

Amps, also known as amperes, measure the number of electrons flowing past a certain point per second. A common analogy that describes amps working is a garden hose.

The more gallons of water flow through the hose per minute, the stronger the current. Amps are also used to measure the capacity of electric batteries. For instance, if a battery has higher amps, more electrons flow through the circuit and charge appliances faster.

The amps and watts are related to each other as follows:

Formula: Watts = Amps × Volts

AC Power System: Alternating current is the flow of charge that changes direction periodically. Homes and offices usually have AC power, as the electricity can easily flow long distances. An example of AC is the wall charger of your electronic devices.

DC Power System: DC or direct current is the electric current that flows only in a single direction. Some examples of DC power systems include fuel cells, photovoltaic (solar) cells, and batteries.

In the three-phase supply system, the lower voltage or voltage between a phase and neutral is generally referred to as the line to neutral voltage. In contrast, the higher voltage or voltage between two phases is the line-to-line voltage.

How to Convert Watts to Amps

Converting watts to amps becomes more critical when choosing any solar-powered system for your home. Below are the four methods to quickly convert ampere to wattage.

Method 1: Fixed Voltage

In this method, the voltage value is generally fixed to 120V or 240V. The simple formula to convert watts to amps is:

Amps = Watts ÷ Voltage

Example: If a device has a power rating of 1000W and is operating at a fixed voltage of 120V, then the current will be:

Amps = 1000W ÷ 120V = 8.33A

Similarly, if the device's power rating is 1000W, but it is operating at 240V, the current drawn will be:

Amps = 1000W ÷ 240V = 4.16V

Method 2: DC Voltage

If the voltage changes from fixed to DC, the formula to convert watts to amps remains the same. The current in amps equals the power in watts divided by voltage.

Amps = Watts ÷ Voltage

Example: Suppose you want to calculate the current drawn by a microwave that consumes 1000W of electricity at 50V.

Amps = 1000W ÷ 50V = 20A

Method 3: Single-Phase AC Voltage

The phase current in amps is equivalent to power in watts, divided by the power factor times the RMS voltage.

I (A) = P (W) ÷ [PF × V (V)]

The power factor of resistive impedance load is equivalent to 1.

Example:

P = 3000W, V = 110V, PF = 0.8

I (A) = P (W) ÷ [PF × V (V)] = 3000W ÷ [0.8 × 110V] = 34A.

Method 4: Three-Phase AC Voltage

There are two methods to calculate the amps in a three-phase AC voltage system: line-to-line and line-to-neutral.

Line-to-Line Voltage: The phase current equals power divided by the square of three times the power factor times the line-to-line RMS voltage.

I (A) = P (W) ÷ [√3 × PF × V (V)]

Example: If you want to calculate the amps with 1000W, 0.8 PF, and a line-to-line RMS voltage of 20V.

I (A) = 1000W ÷ [√3 × 0.8 × 20V] = 36.1A

Line-to-Neutral Voltage: The phase current equals power divided by 3 times the power factor times the line-to-neutral RMS voltage.

I (A) = P (W) ÷ 3 × PF × V (V)

Example: Let's say you want to calculate the amps of a three-phase electric system with 1000W of power, 0.8 PF, and a voltage of 5V.

I (A) = 1000W ÷ [3 × 0.8 × 5V] = 83.3A

Typical Power Factor

The typical power factor is the ratio of useful energy to supplied energy and depends on the type of electrical load. Generally, a power factor of 1 is ideal as all the power is converted to useful work. However, achieving a power factor of 1 is less practical.

Why Convert Watts to Amps?

Watts and amps measure the electric power, but they are different. While watts measure how much electric energy is consumed, the amps measure its flow.

Understanding the relationship between watts and amps can help you determine the size of wire required to connect an electrical appliance to a power source. In addition, it lets you determine the maximum current a particular circuit can handle.

Watts to Amps Conversion Table

How to Convert Amps to Watts

Converting amps to watts is easy whether you're dealing with alternating or direct current. Let's see how to convert amps to watts with some common examples.

Method 1: Fixed Voltage

If you want to convert amperage to wattage at a fixed voltage, follow the formula below.

The power in watts is equal to the current in amps multiplied by voltage in volts.

P (W) = I (A) × V (V)

Example: Let's say you want to convert 12 amperes to wattage at a fixed voltage of 120V.

P = 12A × 120V = 1440W

Method 2: DC Voltage

The formula to  convert amps to watts for DC circuits is:

P (W) = I (A) × V (V)

Example: Let's say you want to calculate the DC power required to charge your laptop with a charger with an output rating of 16.5V and 3.65A.

P (W) = 3.65A × 16.5V = 60.2W

Method 3: AC Voltage

In the AC three-phase system, there are two ways to convert amps to watts.

Line-to-Line Voltage: The power is equal to current times the square root of 3 times the power factor times the line-to-line RMS voltage.

P (W) = √3 × PF × I (A) × V  

Line-to-Neutral Voltage: The power is equal to current times the square root of 3 times the power factor times the line-to-neutral RMS voltage.

P (W) = √3 × PF × I (A) × V

Example: Let's say you want to know the wattage requirement of a system that draws a current of 20A at a voltage of 15V. In this case, the PF is 0.8.

P (W) = √3 × 0.8 × 20A × 15V = 415W

Why Convert Amps to Watts?

When dealing with a solar-powered system, you must convert amps to watts. This conversion will help you understand how much watts your appliances are consuming. In addition, it reveals whether your solar system – especially the inverter – can handle the total expected wattage.

Amps to Watts Conversion Tables

Jackery Power Stations Explained

Identifying the watts and amps of a power station lets you confirm the battery's compatibility with the home or outdoor appliances. The higher the watts of the power station, the longer it can supply electricity to the devices.

Jackery Explorer Power Stations are battery-powered inverter generators that can power various appliances. From 300W to 3000W, Jackery provides portable power stations for different scenarios and can power 99% of devices efficiently.

Jackery Explorer 300 Power Station

With a battery capacity of 293Wh and a surge peak wattage of 500W, the Jackery Explorer 300 Portable Power Station can charge multiple small appliances efficiently. You can charge the power station from 0-80% in only 3.5 hours using Jackery SolarSaga Solar Panels.

Jackery Explorer 1000 Pro Power Station

The fully-compatible lithium-ion battery has a capacity of 1002Wh that can charge 93% of home or outdoor appliances. It weighs only 25.4 lbs, making this power station a portable charging solution for outdoor activities.

Jackery Explorer 2000 Pro Power Station

Featuring a 2160Wh battery and offering output power of 2200W, the Jackery Explorer 2000 Pro Portable Power Station can recharge up to eight electrical devices simultaneously. It can last up to 10 years, assuming you use the power station twice weekly.

Watts to Amps FAQs

How many amps are 4000 watts at 120V?

If you have watts and volts of an electrical circuit, you can easily calculate the amps.

Amps = Watts ÷ Volts = 4000W ÷ 120V = 33.33A

That means 4000 watts, when operating at a voltage of 120 volts, is generally equal to 33.33 amperes.

How to convert watts to volts?

Volt is the measurement of force or pressure required to ensure the electric current can easily flow through the wire.

Smaller home appliances like light bulbs, computers, etc., operate at 120V, whereas larger appliances like refrigerators, washing machines, etc., operate at 240V.

You'll need to know the amperage value to convert watts to volts or volts to watts.

Formula: Volts = Watts ÷ Amps

Here are a few common watts-to-volts conversions with a fixed current of 1 amp.

What are the relations of amps, watts, and volts?

Ohm's Wheel Law is one of the simplest ways to understand the relation of amps, watts, and volts. Let's say you want to install a 2000 watts window air conditioner at your home. Since the AC is a large and power-sensitive home appliance, it generally requires 240 volts. Now that we have the watts and volts, you can calculate the current using the formula:

Amps (I) = Watts (W) ÷ Volts (V) = 2000W ÷ 240V = 8.33A.

Final Thoughts

Understanding how to convert watts to amps and vice versa may seem complex at first glance. However, it's pretty simple once you clear the basics and understand their relationship.

Basic knowledge of watts, amps, and volts will help you choose the best power station or solar generator to charge your home or outdoor appliances.

Jackery Explorer Portable Power Stations feature large battery capacities ranging from 293Wh to 3024Wh. Depending on how many appliances you want to charge or for how long, you can invest in the right size power station.