Volts, Amps and Watts: what is what?

They are concepts that we all know, but surely more than one has trouble distinguishing them. And it is the most normal thing because even though they are familiar words that we have heard more than once, not all of us know or understand what each one consists of.

That is why we want to take advantage of this article to explain to you in great detail who is who. The first point that we must clarify is that the three concepts refer to units of measurement. And what does each one measure? Voltage (volts), current (amps) and power (watts).

Next, we explain them one by one.

Volts

Volts are represented by the letter V and measure electrical voltage, which refers to the difference in electrical potential between two points. To give a graphic example, you can imagine that electric current is made up of electrons that move along a conducting wire and that their movement is produced by the difference between the electric potential of the two ends of the path.

That is, the electrons move due to voltage: an electromagnetic force that causes them to move from point A to point B. As if it were a magnet. And that produces electrical current. The more potential difference there is between the two points, the higher the voltage.

A clear and close example are the power outlets at home, where we connect the plugs. In Europe and in most countries a voltage is produced that is between 220 and 240 volts. As a curiosity, the volt is named in reference to Alessandro Volta, inventor of the voltaic battery in 1800.

Amps

The amperes measure the intensity of the electrical current and are represented by the letter A. The intensity is the amount of electrons that travel along the route that we have mentioned before between point A and point B. Voltage is the tension, the force that moves them, and the amps are the quantity. The more amps, the more electrons.

The ampere is named after the French mathematician and physicist André-Marie Ampère. It began to be used as a unit of measurement for electric current in the mid-19th century, during the development of electromagnetism.

Watts

And finally, the watts. They are represented by the letter W and are the result of multiplying volts and amps, which is why we have left them for last.

Watts measure power, which is the amount of energy we get by combining the voltage (voltage) with the number of electrons in the electric current (intensity) the power is obtained. The more voltage, the more current. And the more voltage and current, the more power.

In the case of the operation of solar panels, you have probably heard of peak power (Wp). This is the maximum electrical power that a plate can generate at any given time. Although the installation is designed to reach a maximum rated power, the peak power can be higher than the rated power.

The watt can be used as a unit of measurement for any power, not only electrical: also mechanical, magnetic, acoustic… And since it is a small unit, many times we will see that power is calculated in kilowatts (kW) or megawatts ( MW), that is, one thousand watts or one million watts, respectively.

The name comes from the Castilianization of the surname of James Watt, a Scottish engineer from the 18th century who made important contributions to the development of the steam engine.

We hope that thanks to this article you can more easily differentiate these units of measurement of electrical current.