Amps, volts, and watts are three basic concepts in electricity that are essential for understanding and working with electrical systems. Heres a breakdown of each concept:

• Amps: Amps, or amperes, measure the flow of electrical current through a circuit. Current is the speed or rate at which electrons flow through a conductor and is represented by the letter “I” in electrical equations. In our water analogy, electrical current is equivalent to the flow rate or amount of water flowing through the hose.

• Volts: Volts, or voltage, measure the force or potential difference that drives the flow of electrons through a circuit. Voltage is also called electromotive force and measures how much pressure it takes the power source to push charged electrons through a conducting loop, allowing the circuit to supply power to things like your lights and appliances. This pressure is measured in volts. In short, voltage measures electromotive force and helps determine what kind of electrical current will be flowing through a wire.

• Watts: Watts, or wattage, measure the rate of energy consumption or generation, also known as power. Wattage refers to the rate of energy used by a device, and it’s measured in watts. Watts can be used like horsepower to quantify output over time and take into account input (resistance). In our water analogy, the water flow rate is equivalent to current and water pressure is equal to voltage. As the equation P = V * I shows, power is directly related to current and voltage.

To summarize, amps measure the flow of electrical current, volts measure the force or potential difference that drives the flow of electrons, and watts measure the rate of energy consumption or generation. These three units are related through the formula: Power (Watts) = Voltage (Volts) x Current (Amps) .