By Three terms that always spring to mind when you look at electronics are volts amps and watts and you can see them mostly on nameplates. Those who have solar panels at home can also attest to the fact that these three words are important during the setup and installation of the equipment. Why do these words matter in real life? The three terms refer to voltage, amperes, and watts. They are used for the design of machines and devices. Even as consumers, you should also get yourself acquainted with such terms because they are important for daily life. Get to know them more through the guide below.
Voltage, Ampere, and Watts Explained
Voltage
In its simplest sense, the voltage of a device is the pressure that pushes the electrons, the ones that make up the electricity that powers your appliances, through a conductor, like a wire or cable. Volts is the unit of measurement for voltage. As an illustration for volts amps watts terms, if water is the electricity that flows through a pipe, then the voltage is the water pressure. It is the driving force that moves the electrons through a mode of conduction. If a device requires a higher voltage, the flow of electricity with a low voltage would mean that it will not work optimally. When it is too high, the voltage can damage the circuit of the electronic device.
Ampere
The ampere is a unit that is used to measure current or electrical flow. If voltage refers to the pressure that pushes the electrons, the ampere is the rate of flow per second at a specific point in the pipe. Why is an ampere important to a consumer like you? This unit of measure is important for the safety and functionality of any device. Circuit breakers can trip when there is an increased amperage in the supply of electricity. Device has limited amount of amperage that they allow their circuits so that it does not overheat and cause permanent negative effects on the inside components. In terms of solar panels, energy efficiency can be designed based on the relationship between wattage, voltage, and amperage.
Watts
Watts is the one term that you are most familiar with because it refers to the power rating of the device. This can be relative to the device being mentioned. For an electronic device, the wattage or power indicated on it refers to its power requirement so that it will function properly. On the other hand, with regard to solar panels, the power rating that you will find pertains to the amount of solar power that it can generate based on optimal or ideal conditions. Watts are important in determining the total power consumption of your home, which can dictate the number of solar panels, batteries, and power generators that you need. Going back to the water illustration, watts is the total energy done, like the water hitting the end of a pipe.
Conclusion
Now that you know what volts amps watts signify, you can approach electricity and electronic devices a little more carefully. You will also give more respect to companies that provide devices that make sure all of these units of measure are maintained and determined beforehand. You do not want to operate devices, not knowing if they are safe to use or not. Voltage, ampere, and watts all affect how electronics function and behave, so you should also learn to read the label first before plugging a device into a solar panel or a power outlet. It is safe to say that, after reading the terms above, you now have a better understanding of how electricity works.