The Differences Between Watts & Amps

Electrical systems are used to power everything on our properties. Everything from our lights to our fridges to our TVs is powered by our electrical systems. Our electrical systems are made up of a maze of electrical wires that carry currents from your electricity supplier to your home. Each wire is rated to be able to handle a specific amount of amperage. Electrical loads are measured using several types of units of measurement including watts and amps.

So, what is the difference between the two? An amp is a measurement of the amount of current or electrical energy that is being passed through a wire. A watt is the unit of measuring the electrical power of that current. Watts are calculated by multiplying the amps being used by an appliance by the volts of the power source. The electrical wiring used to transfer electrical currents from a power source to the device using it is then measured by gauge. Each gauge is specifically designed to handle a certain amperage.