For those people who do not usually deal with electrical circuits and appliances in a professional way, differentiating the various ways of measuring electricity can be somewhat confusing. Although the terms sound familiar to us, we are not always able to explain what they really are. Could you say, for example, what amperage is?
If not, I recommend that you continue reading. In this article we will explain what amperage is and what it defines. Also, in order not to mess with the different terms anymore, We'll also discuss how it differs from voltage. I hope this information is useful to you!
What is and what is amperage used for?
When we talk about amperage, we refer to the intensity of electrical current and is usually expressed in amperes (amps) according to the International System of Units. But what exactly is the intensity of electric current? Well, it is the amount of electrons that circulate for a certain time through a type of material. In other words: Amperage is the power in an electrical current when it flows between two points (from negative to positive) through a conductor, such as an electrical cable.
Speaking of this topic, it should be noted that The electric shocks that people receive are measured in amperes, since the important thing is the amount of electrical charge that the body has received to determine the severity, and not the voltage, as people usually think. Later we will discuss in more detail what voltage is and how it differs from amperage.
As for the various electronic gadgets and devices, these can be classified according to their amperage, which would actually be the amount of energy that they need to acquire from the network when they are in operation. It is important that we know how to differentiate the various ways of referring to domestic electrical current, let's see:
- Intensity: As we have already mentioned, it is the amperage and it is measured in amperes (amps).
- Tension: In this case, we do talk about voltage and it is measured in volts (V).
- Power: It is a measure that reflects the voltage during a certain period of time, it would be watt hours (Wh) or kilowatt hours (kWh).
What define amps?
As we have already mentioned above, amps are the unit of measurement of amperage, that is, of the intensity of electrical current. This is a very important parameter to protect household appliances and prevent both short circuits and overheating of the wiring. For this we have fuses, which are small devices that have a metal filament that is designed to interrupt the flow of current if it reaches a certain amperage.
Normally, quality electronics of a certain size already have their own built-in fuses, such as refrigerators or washing machines, at least the vast majority. There are also other electrical installations that use built-in fuses to protect the electrical system, such as automobiles.
Are amperage and voltage the same?
Now that we know what amperage is, let's look at what voltage is and why these two terms are not the same. Basically it is the potential difference or voltage of a closed electrical circuit, and not the intensity. Voltage is an electromotive force that exerts a charge or pressure on electrons. The result of this voltage is the flow of electrical current. The greater the pressure exerted, the greater the voltage or voltage existing in that circuit.
So that we can get a better idea about volts, a good option is to compare it with water. Both in electricity and in water, pressure determines how it flows. In the case of water, it flows from positive to negative pressure. That is to say: When we open the tap, we are reducing the pressure so that the water can flow. The same thing happens with electricity. The amount of tension is determined by the ratio between the positive and negative charges. It would be something like this:
- More positive than negative charge: High pressure/voltage (electricity flows slowly)
- Less positive than negative charge: Low pressure/voltage (electricity flows quickly)
At this point, it should be noted that the electric current a difference is generally made between low, medium and high voltage, depending on the voltage.
Differences between amperage and voltage
As we have already mentioned above, the amperage is the intensity of the electric current, that is to say: The amps represent the amount of electricity. On the other hand, the voltage is the pressure, that is, the amount of electricity relative to the capacity of the cable in question. Definitely: Amps are a quantity, while volts are a range. In order to understand it better, we are going to explain how electricity reaches homes.
Electricity is transmitted through wiring systems that are connected to a generator. So that the loss of energy due to the resistance of said wiring is minimal, transformers are used. These are responsible for transmitting electricity with high voltage that is capable of overcoming the resistance of the wiring system. Before being introduced into homes, other transformers regulate the voltage so that the electricity arrives with an adequate voltage. In Europe it is usually a voltage of 220 to 230 volts, while in the United States it is usually 110 volts.
It is important to note that voltage does not reflect the amount of electricity being used, but rather the potential available. To know the amount, you must include the amperage that does reflect the amount of electrical charge used by electrical appliances. And now let's put one more term to finish: The watts. These reflect the power, that is, the total energy. It is calculated by multiplying the amps (amount of charge) by the volts (the rate at which it flows). As you can see, although amperage and voltage are not the same, both are necessary to determine the power of an electronic device.
I hope that with all this information it has become clear to you what amperage is and how it differs from voltage.