Amps, Volts, Watts, explained

[ynneb]

I have noticed in many posts some confusion about what the different terms of electricity mean and how they relate to your CNC set up.

Thanks Ferenczyg, for your contribution below. Now all I have to do is post a picture.


Please click image below to see diagram.

[Ferenczyg]

-Amps are the electrical current unit.
-Volts are the electircal potential difference between two points unit
-Watts are the electrical power unit, and is the result of volts per amperes.

And if someone doesn't know or understand these definitions before reading this thread, now probably is thinking.. so what?

To provide more understanding of these unit a good way is to imagine the electricity -that is a flux of electrons- as a flux of water.

Imagine a water tank with a faucet, put at some level over the floor:
-the speed of the water when reach the floor is like the volts or voltage
-the quantity of water that reach the floor is like the current, or the amperes or the amperage
-the power with what the water can push when arrives at the floor is like the watts or the wattage

OK thats the easy part

Then, try to imagine two systems, one with the tank very high but with the faucet almost closed and other equal with the tank at floor level and the fauced more opened. What of the two tanks will provide more force? both more or less equal.

What if you want more force? increase the mass of water leaving the tank or increase the distance fallen by the water from the tank. Or the same, to increase the power, increase the voltage or the current. If possible, increase both. But do not overstate, the water can drag your measurement tool from your hands (or in electrical language, too much power can blow your fuse

Now, I beg the pardon of all the engineers, scientifics and academics for the gross oversimplification with the magnitudes the units and any confusion added, it has been in favour of the knowledge .

Fer

[ynneb]

Rhodan has requested that this be added.........

You should mention in the power supply descriptions that amperage drawn is dependant on load and that the power supply will deliver only as much power as the circuit requires.

A common question in electronics is "My circuit needs 1 amp but I can only find a 2 amp power supply, will that work or is it too big?"