Watts to Amps Calculator
Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made in building this calculator, we are not to be held liable for any damages or monetary losses arising out of or in connection with the use of it. This tool is here purely as a service to you, please use it at your own risk. Full disclaimer. Do not use calculations for anything where loss of life, money, property, etc could result from inaccurate calculations.
How do you convert watts to amps?
The formula for converting watts to amps (at a fixed voltage) is:
- 1500 watts / 120 volts = 12.5 amps
- 3000 watts / 120 volts = 25 amps
| Power | Current | Voltage |
|---|---|---|
| 50 watts | 0.417 amps | 120 volts |
| 100 watts | 0.833 amps | 120 volts |
| 150 watts | 1.25 amps | 120 volts |
| 200 watts | 1.667 amps | 120 volts |
| 250 watts | 2.083 amps | 120 volts |
| 300 watts | 2.5 amps | 120 volts |
| 350 watts | 2.917 amps | 120 volts |
| 400 watts | 3.333 amps | 120 volts |
| 450 watts | 3.75 amps | 120 volts |
| 500 watts | 4.167 amps | 120 volts |
| 600 watts | 5 amps | 120 volts |
| 700 watts | 5.833 amps | 120 volts |
| 800 watts | 6.667 amps | 120 volts |
| 900 watts | 7.5 amps | 120 volts |
| 1000 watts | 8.333 amps | 120 volts |
| 1100 watts | 9.167 amps | 120 volts |
| 1200 watts | 10 amps | 120 volts |
| 1300 watts | 10.833 amps | 120 volts |
| 1400 watts | 11.667 amps | 120 volts |
| 1500 watts | 12.5 amps | 120 volts |
| 1600 watts | 13.333 amps | 120 volts |
| 1700 watts | 14.167 amps | 120 volts |
| 1800 watts | 15 amps | 120 volts |
| 1900 watts | 15.833 amps | 120 volts |
| 2000 watts | 16.667 amps | 120 volts |
| 2100 watts | 17.5 amps | 120 volts |
| 2200 watts | 18.333 amps | 120 volts |
| 2300 watts | 19.167 amps | 120 volts |
| 2400 watts | 20 amps | 120 volts |
| 2500 watts | 20.833 amps | 120 volts |
| Note: conversions are a guide only and are rounded to max 3 decimal places. | ||
| Power | Current | Voltage |
|---|---|---|
| 5 watts | 0.417 amps | 12 volts |
| 10 watts | 0.833 amps | 12 volts |
| 15 watts | 1.25 amps | 12 volts |
| 20 watts | 1.667 amps | 12 volts |
| 25 watts | 2.083 amps | 12 volts |
| 30 watts | 2.5 amps | 12 volts |
| 35 watts | 2.917 amps | 12 volts |
| 40 watts | 3.333 amps | 12 volts |
| 45 watts | 3.75 amps | 12 volts |
| 50 watts | 4.167 amps | 12 volts |
| 60 watts | 5 amps | 12 volts |
| 70 watts | 5.833 amps | 12 volts |
| 80 watts | 6.667 amps | 12 volts |
| 90 watts | 7.5 amps | 12 volts |
| 100 watts | 8.333 amps | 12 volts |
| 110 watts | 9.167 amps | 12 volts |
| 120 watts | 10 amps | 12 volts |
| 130 watts | 10.833 amps | 12 volts |
| 140 watts | 11.667 amps | 12 volts |
| 150 watts | 12.5 amps | 12 volts |
| 160 watts | 13.333 amps | 12 volts |
| 170 watts | 14.167 amps | 12 volts |
| 180 watts | 15 amps | 12 volts |
| 190 watts | 15.833 amps | 12 volts |
| 200 watts | 16.667 amps | 12 volts |
| 210 watts | 17.5 amps | 12 volts |
| 220 watts | 18.333 amps | 12 volts |
| 230 watts | 19.167 amps | 12 volts |
| 240 watts | 20 amps | 12 volts |
| 250 watts | 20.833 amps | 12 volts |
| Note: conversions are a guide only and are rounded to max 3 decimal places. | ||
Examples for converting watts to amps
To find the amps, you use Watt’s Law formula and work backwards, dividing the wattage (power produced / P) by the voltage (force / E):
Current (I) = Power (P) ÷ Voltage (E)
So…
amps = watts ÷ volts
Example: 600 watts are being sent at 120 volts. What's the current?
Current = Power ÷ Voltage
Current = 600W ÷ 120V
Current = 5A
And…
If you’re working with larger units, you need to remember that 1 kilowatt is equal to 1000 watts. The formula for Watt’s law stays the same, just as long as you express the wattage in watts (your sum will go wrong if you use ‘5W’ to mean ‘5KW’; you need to use 5000W instead).
Example: 2.4KW watts are being sent at 120 volts
Current = Power ÷ Voltage
Current = 2400W ÷ 120V
Current = 20A
Understanding watts, amps and volts
Amps
Amps are amperes, a unit which measures electrical current. It can be helpful to imagine electrical current as water in a hose. In this analogy, the quantity (volume) of water would be the amps.
Volts
Volts are a unit to measure force. They measure the force required to make the electrical current (amps) flow. In the hose analogy, the volts would be the water pressure. North American homes typically use 120V for their electrical supply, whilst 230V is common across many other countries.
Watts
Watts represent the amount of energy produced by the amps and volts working together. Multiplying amps (water volume) by volts (water pressure) gives you the wattage (the resulting power or energy). A water wheel would turn faster and longer, generating more energy if it uses increased water volume and higher water pressure; the same applies to the wattage if amps and volts are increased.
AC/DC
DC stands for direct current, when the current flows in one single direction. A flashlight with a battery uses a direct current.
AC stands for alternating current, when the current periodically changes direction. In Northern America and Western Japan, this usually happens 60 times per second, or 60Hz / hertz. In Europe, the UK, East Japan and most of Australia, South America, Africa and Asia, the current changes direction 50 times per second, which is 50Hz. Power supplied to homes and businesses uses AC supply.
It’s simple, really, but if you’re feeling short-circuited after all those numbers, just use our watts and amps conversion calculator at the top of this page.
As part of our collection of energy calculators, we also have a lumens to watts calculator available.
If you have any problems using this watts and amps converter, please contact me.
