Current Equation:
From: | To: |
The current equation (I = P/V) calculates electrical current from power and voltage. It's a fundamental equation in electrical engineering and physics that relates these three basic electrical quantities.
The calculator uses the current equation:
Where:
Explanation: The equation shows that current is directly proportional to power and inversely proportional to voltage.
Details: Calculating current is essential for circuit design, selecting appropriate wire gauges, determining fuse sizes, and ensuring electrical safety in systems.
Tips: Enter power in watts and voltage in volts. Both values must be positive numbers. The calculator will compute the current in amperes.
Q1: What if I know current and want to find power?
A: You can rearrange the equation: P = I × V. Multiply current by voltage to get power.
Q2: What are typical current values in household circuits?
A: In North America, typical household circuits carry 15-20 amps at 120 volts. Larger appliances may use 240 volts.
Q3: Does this work for both AC and DC circuits?
A: For DC circuits, this works directly. For AC circuits, this gives RMS current when using RMS voltage and real power.
Q4: What about three-phase power systems?
A: For balanced three-phase systems, the equation becomes I = P / (√3 × V × PF), where PF is power factor.
Q5: How accurate is this calculation?
A: The calculation is mathematically exact for ideal conditions. Real-world factors like resistance, reactance, and power factor may affect actual current.