Current Converter
Conversion table
1 Ampere equals:
About Current Converter
The most common mistake with amperes is not arithmetic but treating mAh as a current. mAh is charge (current × time): a 20000 mAh power bank is a capacity, not a device that outputs 20000 mA. It typically delivers 2–3 A, and that capacity is about 74 Wh (20000 mAh × 3.7 V) — Wh is what airlines limit, not mAh.
Everyday numbers: phone charging 1–3 A (over 5 A with fast charging), laptops 3–5 A, household sockets 10 A or 16 A, air conditioners and other high-draw appliances on a dedicated 16 A circuit. The figure printed on a socket is the continuous rating; sustained overload heats the wiring, which is why space heaters and induction hobs get their own circuit.
Milliamps are where electronics live: an ordinary LED runs at 10–20 mA, and a microcontroller pin usually tops out around 40 mA — beyond that you need a transistor or driver. This is why driving a motor straight from an IO pin reliably kills the pin.
Microamps are standby and sensors: a sleeping device often draws a few microamps, which is how a coin cell lasts years; if standby creeps into the milliamp range, the same cell dies in months.
Frequently asked questions
Can a 20000 mAh power bank output 20 A?
No. mAh is capacity (current × time); output is typically 2–3 A, and the capacity is about 74 Wh.
Is the 10 A on a socket a peak or continuous rating?
Continuous. Brief overload heats the wiring, so high-draw appliances belong on a dedicated 16 A circuit.
Can a microcontroller pin drive a motor directly?
No. Pins usually cap at about 40 mA while a motor's inrush is far higher — use a driver or transistor.
Why is standby current measured in microamps?
A coin cell holds tens to hundreds of mAh; milliamp standby drains it in months, microamp standby in years.
