Watts to Amps Converter
Convert electrical power in watts to current in amps for DC and single-phase AC circuits. Enter the wattage, voltage, and power factor to calculate the current draw, apparent power, and thermal output of any electrical device or circuit.
The relationship between watts, amps, and volts follows Ohm's law and the power equation. For DC circuits and purely resistive AC loads (power factor = 1), the formula is simply Amps = Watts / Volts. For AC circuits with inductive or capacitive loads, the power factor must be included.
Key formulas:
- Amps (DC) = Watts ÷ Volts
- Amps (AC single-phase) = Watts ÷ (Volts × Power Factor)
- Apparent Power (VA) = Watts ÷ Power Factor
- BTU/hr = Watts × 3.41214
Common Electrical Reference:
| Device | Watts | Voltage | PF | Amps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LED Bulb | 10 | 120 V | 1.0 | 0.083 |
| Microwave | 1,000 | 120 V | 0.95 | 8.77 |
| Hair Dryer | 1,500 | 120 V | 1.0 | 12.5 |
| Window AC | 1,200 | 120 V | 0.85 | 11.76 |
| Electric Oven | 2,400 | 240 V | 1.0 | 10.0 |
| EV Charger (L2) | 7,200 | 240 V | 1.0 | 30.0 |
The power factor describes how efficiently an AC circuit uses power. Purely resistive loads (heaters, incandescent bulbs) have a PF of 1.0. Motors, compressors, and fluorescent lighting typically have PFs of 0.8-0.95, meaning they draw more current than the wattage alone would suggest.