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How to convert watts to amps

How to convert electric power in watts (W) to electric current in amps (A).
You can calculate amps from watts and volts. You can't convert watts to amps since watts and amps
units do not measure the same quantity.
DC watts to amps
AC single phase watts to amps
AC three phase watts to amps

DC watts to amps calculation formula


The current I in amps (A) is equal to the power P in watts (W), divided by the voltage V in volts (V):
I(A) = P(W) / V(V)
So amps are equal to watts divided by volts.
amp = watt / volt
or
A=W/V
Example
What is the current in amps when the power consumption is 330 watts and the voltage supply is 110
volts?
I = 330W / 110V = 3A
AC single phase watts to amps calculation formula
The phase current I in amps (A) is equal to the real power P in watts (W), divided by the power factor
PF times the RMS voltage V in volts (V):
I(A) = P(W) / (PF V(V) )
So amps are equal to watts divided by power factor times volts.
amps = watts / (PF volts)
or
A = W / (PF V)
Example
What is the phase current in amps when the power consumption is 330 watts, the power factor is 0.8
and the RMS voltage supply is 110 volts?
I = 330W / (0.8 110V) = 3.75A
AC three phase watts to amps calculation formula
Amps calculation with line to line voltage
The phase current I in amps (A) is equal to the real power P in watts (W), divided by square root of 3
times the power factor PF times the line to line RMS voltage VL-L in volts (V):
I(A) = P(W) / (3 PF VL-L(V) )
So amps are equal to watts divided by square root of 3 times power factor times volts.
amps = watts / (3 PF volts)
or
A = W / (3 PF V)
Example
What is the phase current in amps when the power consumption is 330 watts, the power factor is 0.8
and the RMS voltage supply is 110 volts?
I = 330W / (3 0.8 110V) = 2.165A
Amps calculation with line to neutral voltage
The calculation assumes the loads are balanced.
The phase current I in amps (A) is equal to the real power P in watts (W), divided by 3 times the
power factor PF times the line to neutral RMS voltage VL-0 in volts (V):
I(A) = P(W) / (3 PF VL-0(V) )
So amps are equal to watts divided by 3 times power factor times volts.
amps = watts / (3 PF volts)
or
A = W / (3 PF V)

How to convert amps to watts


How to convert electric current in amps (A) to electric power in watts (W).
You can calculate watts from amps and volts. You can't convert amps to watts since watts and amps
units do not measure the same quantity.
DC amps to watts
AC single phase amps to watts
AC three phase amps to watts

DC amps to watts calculation formula


The power P in watts (W) is equal to the current I in amps (A), times the voltage V in volts (V):
P(W) = I(A) V(V)
So watts are equal to amps times volts:
watt = amp volt
or
W=AV
Example
What is power consumption in watts when the current is 3A and the voltage supply is 110V?
Answer: the power P is equal to current of 3 amps times the voltage of 110 volts.
P = 3A 110V = 330W
AC single phase amps to watts calculation formula
The real power P in watts (W) is equal to the power factor PF times the phase current I in amps (A),
times the RMS voltage V in volts (V):
P(W) = PF I(A) V(V)
So watts are equal to power factor times amps times volts:
watt = PF amp volt
or
W = PF A V
Example
What is power consumption in watts when the power factor is 0.8 and the phase current is 3A and
the RMS voltage supply is 110V?
Answer: the power P is equal to power factor of 0.8 times current of 3 amps times voltage of 110
volts.
P = 0.8 3A 110V = 264W
AC three phase amps to watts calculation formula
Watts calculation with line to line voltage
The real power P in watts (W) is equal to square root of 3 times the power factor PF times the phase
current I in amps (A), times the line to line RMS voltage VL-L in volts (V):
P(W) = 3 PF I(A) VL-L(V)
So watts are equal to square root of 3 times power factor PF times amps times volts:
watt = 3 PF amp volt
or
W = 3 PF A V
Example
What is power consumption in watts when the power factor is 0.8 and the phase current is 3A and
the RMS voltage supply is 110V?
Answer: the power P is equal to power factor of 0.8 times current of 3 amps times the voltage of 110
volts.
P = 3 0.8 3A 110V = 457W
Watts calculation with line to neutral voltage
The calculation assumes the loads are balanced.
The real power P in watts (W) is equal to 3 times the power factor PF times the phase current I in
amps (A), times the line to neutral RMS voltage VL-0 in volts (V):
P(W) = 3 PF I(A) VL-0(V)
So watts are equal to 3 times power factor PF times amps times volts:
watt = 3 PF amp volt
or
W = 3 PF A V

LOAD CALCULATION & CABLE SIZE FOR


A TYPICAL BUILDING / STRUCTURE
ENTER DETAILS FOR ONE FLAT / UNIT
NOTE : ACTUAL PROGRAM IS AVAILABLE WITH THE SOFTWARE
NO. OF LIGHT POINTS LOAD IN W :
40

NO. OF FAN POINTS 3


LOAD IN W :
60

NO. OF POWER POINTS IN BATHROOM 1.0


LOAD IN W :
500

PLUG POWER POINT 1.0


LOAD IN W :
1500

PLUG ON BOARD 3.0


LOAD IN W :
100

INDEPENDENT 1.0
LOAD IN W :
100

BELL POINT 1.0


LOAD IN W :
100

DIVERSITY FACTOR 0.75

TEMPERATURE CORRECTION FACTOR 1.0

ENTER COMMON DETAILS


TOTAL NO. OF SUCH FLATS / UNITS 14

COMMON LIGHT POINTS 20


LOAD IN W :
100

NO. OF PUMPS 3
LOAD IN W :
2000

ANY OTHER / MISCELLANEOUS IN NO. 0


LOAD IN W :
0

How do you calculate the electrical load of


a house?
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by Manage My Life
April 26th, 2007
How do you calculate the electrical load of a house?

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1 Answer from this member:

This is a simplified method for doing a

very rough

calculation. Remember, electricians and designers use rules that are much
more complicated, so don't get ahead of yourself. Let's look at a simple
formula.

HOUSE LOAD = BASIC LOAD + LARGE APPLIANCES + SPECIAL LOADS

BASIC LOAD

include lighting, outlets, and smaller appliances including oil or gas furnaces,
central vacuums, pool pumps, waste disposals, etc., but NOT baseboard
heaters

based on house size (square feet)

LARGE APPLIANCES

include electric stove, electric dryer and electric water heater

SPECIAL LOADS

include saunas, fixed electric heaters (most commonly baseboard heaters),


electric furnaces, central air conditioners, kilns, etc.
Follow these five steps:

BASIC LOAD

Estimate or measure house square footage. Include 75% of any basement


floor area. Don't use measurements based on the outside wall surfaces.
Calculate interior space. For the first 1,000 square feet, allow 5,000W. For
each of the next 1,000 square feet, or part thereof, add 1,000W. This gives a
BASIC LOAD, in watts.

LARGE APPLIANCES

A typical house has an electric stove and dryer, and an electric water heater.
Note: Include these in the calculation even if the house presently has a gas
stove, for example, if you plan on changing appliances. Allow 6,000W for the
stove. Allow 1,000W for the dryer. Allow 750W for the electric water heater.
Allow 1,500W for any additional stoves. The total of these gives you the
LARGE APPLIANCES LOAD, in watts.

Add the BASIC and LARGE APPLIANCES LOAD, and divide by 240V to get a
subtotal, in amps.

Subtotal = (BASIC + LARGE APPLIANCES) ? 240 = amps.

SPECIAL LOADS

Find out any special loads the house may have. The load in amps is read off
the data plate on each appliance. Common special loads are a. sauna b.
electric furnace c. electric baseboard or wall mounted heaters add up the
wattage on each data plate; divide the total by 240V to get amps d. central air
conditioner use the FLA (full load amps) e. kiln If you can't find or can't read
the data plate, use the amp rating of the supply cable to the appliance, or the
rating of the fuse or breaker.

HOUSE LOAD

The

house load

is the sum of the Subtotal and the Special Loads. Let's run through an
example with a 2-story, 1,500 square foot home with 100-amp service.

BASIC LOAD Each story is 750 square feet (1,500 2). Seventy-five percent of
the basement area is: 75% x 750 = 562 sq. ft. Total area for calculations =
1500 + 562 = 2062 sq. ft. Use 5,000W for first 1,000 sq. ft.: 5,000W Use
1,000W for next 1,000 sq. ft.: 1,000W Use 1,000W for the last 62 ft.: 1,000W
BASIC LOAD: 7,000W

LARGE APPLIANCES Electric Stove: 6,000W Dryer: 1,000W LARGE


APPLIANCE LOAD: 7,000W

Subtotal: (7,000W + 7,000W) 240V = 58.3 Amps

SPECIAL LOADS 2-ton air conditioner with full load amperage rating (FLA) =
12 Amps 2 x 1,000W baseboard heaters = 2,000W 240V = 8.3 Amps Sauna
data plate says 25-amps

HOUSE LOAD TOTAL (Subtotal plus special loads) 58.3A + 12A + 8.3A +
25A = 103.6 Amps

This house doesn't look like it has quite enough electricity. It's close, though,
so we recommend that the homeowner try it before committing to a service
upgrade. Remember that the baseboard heaters won't be on when the A/C is,
and the sauna will only be used occasionally. But this service cannot support
any additional loads.

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