Electrical Formulas
Electrical Formulas
• Volts - The units of electrical potential or motive force. The force is required to
send one ampere of current through one ohm of resistance.
• Ohms - The units of resistance. One ohm is the resistance offered to the passage
of one ampere when impelled by one volt.
• Amperes - The units of current. One ampere is the current which onevolt can send
through a resistance of one ohm.
• Watts - The unit of electrical energy or power. One watt is the product of one
ampere and one volt. One ampere of current flowing under the force of one volt
gives one watt of energy.
• Volt Amperes - The product of the volts and amperes as shown by a voltmeter
and ammeter. In direct current systems, volt ampere is the same as watts or the
energy delivered. In alternating current systems, the volts and amperes may or
may not be 100% synchronous. When synchronous, the volt amperes equal the
watts on a wattmeter. When not synchronous, volt amperes exceed watts. More
about reactive power.
• Kilovolt Ampere - One kilovolt ampere - KVA - is equal to 1,000 volt amperes.
• Power Factor - is the ratio of watts to volt amperes.