Amps, Watts, and Volts Made Easy: A Beginner's Guide

Electricity has become an integral part of our lives, and we cannot even think of living a day without it. But power outages and grid failures often creep into our lives, destroying all the balance.

As per an article from Fortune, approximately two-thirds of the US populace is facing the risk of power outages. But nothing can keep Americans from electrifying their houses. They are investing in solar power stations because solar energy is safer, cleaner, and more reliable than conventional grid power.

However, knowing the power station's amps, watts, voltage, etc., is crucial to ensure your devices never skip a beat. This comprehensive article will outline how to calculate amps, watts, and volts and also recommend three top-notch portable power stations with high amperage, watt, and volt values.

What Are Amps, Watts, and Volts?

The knowledge of basic electricity terms like amps, watts, volts, and ohms becomes crucial when it comes to the fundamentals of electricity.

These electrical terms are handy for any power station since they play a vital role in determining their compatibility with your household or office appliances. Conversely, if you power your equipment using the wrong voltage battery, it will fail to work.

The best thing about these electrical terms is that they are all connected, and you can calculate them using a simple formula. For instance, you can determine how many watts a device consumes by multiplying amps and volts. 

What is An Ampere?

Amperes, commonly called amps, represent the number of electrons that flow through a certain point per second. In other words, it measures the current flow through an electrical circuit.

In pure mathematics, amperes are equivalent to watts divided by volts of a specific device. Its formula is

Amps = Watts / Volts.

It means if you know the watts and volts of an appliance, you can easily find its amps. For example, if the watts and volts of an electronic device are 1,920W and 240V, respectively, the ampere value will be

Amps = 1,920W / 240V = 8A.

Amperage, expressed in amps, indicates the strength of that currency. The larger the amperage, the more current can flow through the circuit. 

What is A Watt?

Wattage, AKA watts, measures the power an electric device consumes. It can be defined as the "electricity at work" or power a device needs to work.

In mathematical terms, it is the product of amps and volts. Its formula is

Watts = Amps × Volts.

For example, if a household appliance uses 15 amps and 240 volts, the wattage value will be:

Watts = 15A × 240V = 3,600W.

The higher the wattage value, the more the output and power of an electronic appliance. Below is a wattage table for common home appliances:

What is A Volt?

Voltage, typically known as volts, is the pressure or force an electric current needs to flow past a wire. It also measures the speed at which the electrons flow through the circuit.

Large household appliances like refrigerators or deep freezers, washing machines, air conditioners, and heaters operate at 240V, while smaller gadgets like energy bulbs, computers, and phone chargers work at 120V.

In numerical terms, volts are equal to the wattage of an appliance divided by its amps. Its formula is

Volts = Watts / Amps.

If an appliance's power consumption is 1,000 watts and its ampere value is 25 amps, the volts can be calculated as

Volts = 1,000W / 25V = 40V.

What is An Ohm?

An Ohm measures the resistance inherent in an electric wire when the electrons flow from high to low. If I state otherwise, it signifies the electrical resistance between two points of a conductor. 

In technical terms, when 1V of constant potential difference is applied to these points, and a current of 1A is produced, the natural resistance will be one Ohm. Its formula is

Ohm = Volts / Amps 

Or, Ω = V / A.

For instance, if there is 240V and a current of 12A, the natural resistance of the conductor will be

Ω = 240V  / 12A = 20 Ω.

The Relation Between Amps, Watts, and Volts

Electrical mathematics may seem daunting to understand. Well. Ohm's wheel law is one simple and quick way to understand the relation between amps, watts, and volts.

Still on the fence? Here is an example to help you understand how the wheel works. Suppose you want to install an electric heater at your home and finalize a 1,500W heater. Now, you have to determine the circuit needed for your heater to run smoothly.

Suppose the heater is rated at 1,500W and needs 240 volts to operate. As we already have wattage and voltage values, we calculate amps using the formula from Ohm's wheel.

I = W / E, 

where I represents Current, W is Wattage, and E is Voltage.

Substitute the specific values:

I = 1,500W / 240V = 6.25.

As a typical US household operates the heater for 7 to 8 hours on a frosty winter day, apply a safety factor of 150%.

I = 6.25 × 1.50 = 9.375A.

This means your electric heater would require a 10A circuit for optimal working.

Voltage, Current, and Resistance

According to Ohm's law, voltage, current, and resistance relate to each other. Their relation can be represented as 

V = I × R, 

where V is Voltage, I is Current, and R is resistance.

This equation indicates that an increase in voltage will directly increase the resistance while the current will remain the same.

Power, Voltage, and Current

Now, after all the above discussion, you will not be surprised to know that power, voltage, and current are also connected. Below is a simple equation highlighting their connection:

P = V × I, 

where P denotes Power, V is Voltage, and I is Current.

This equation shows that the power (output) can be increased by either increasing current or voltage.

BLUETTI Solar Power Stations Explained

When choosing a power station, you should pay attention to its amps, watts, and volts. A battery backup with more watts can keep your devices working for longer, and the ones with more amperes will charge your devices faster.

BLUETTI is a class-leading solar company that manufactures portable power stations of different sizes. Its compact, durable, and safe power stations can be used for living off-grid, traveling, or camping.

BLUETTI AC180 Solar Power Station

The BLUETTI AC180 is the most faithful comrade during an outage. Its enormous capacity of 1,152Wh and a steady power output of 1,800W can meet all your power needs.

The AC180 is ready to give you the power whenever you need it. In just 45 minutes, it can be charged up to 80%. You can also control it using the BLUETTI smart app - another plus point.

The AC180 has 11 output ports, including AC outlets, USB-A, USB-C, 12V DC outlets, and a wireless charging pad. It means you can use your gadgets even without grid power.

The best thing about AC180 is its power-lifting mode that can provide 2700W for those power-crazy devices. Lastly, the AC180 comes with a solid 5-year guarantee for your peace of mind.

BLUETTI EB70s Solar Power Station

The BLUETTI EP70s is another portable power station you can trust. It features an 800W/1,000W power inverter and a 716Wh battery pack to provide enough power in the hour of need.

The EB70S can charge several devices simultaneously because it has 11 output ports. It also has a 15-watt wireless charge pad to keep your gadgets operational.

Also, it is easy to take wherever you go because of its comfortable handle. It can be moved even with one hand. So, you will never feel awkward during a sudden loss of power with the EB70.

BLUETTI AC200MAX Solar Power Station

The BLUETTI AC200MAX is the best option for people who want a powerful backup source, which has 2048Wh capacity. This power station has two expansion ports, and each port can hold a BLUETTI B230 (2048Wh) or B300 (3072Wh) battery cell. 

The AC200MAX is one of those solar stations that can charge really fast. It can take up to 900W of output from the sun and 500W from a charger. You can even charge it simultaneously with a sun panel and a wall plug.

It has 16 outlets, including a built-in 30A NEMA TT-30 and a powerful 12V 30A DC outlet. All these things make it perfect for anyone seeking a solid solution for tough times.

Final Word:

The amps, watts, voltage, and resistance formulas can help calculate the power consumption of your appliances. Once you become acquainted with how much power your devices need, you can easily determine the needed portable power station size.

Based on your energy needs, you can choose the BLUETTI AC200MAX, which can be expanded to reach a whopping capacity. Or, have a look at other flexible options on the BLUETTI website. You will surely find a budget-friendly yet reliable backup solution for your needs there.