What is a Watt?

Ever wonder how much power your phone charger uses, or how strong that portable battery you're eyeing really is? The answer lies in a tiny but powerful unit called a watt. Understanding watts is key to choosing the perfect power solution for your needs.

So...What's A Watt?

Imagine electricity as water flowing through a hose. The amount of water flowing through the hose is like electrical power. Simply put, a watt (W) tells you how much electrical power something is using or can provide.

• More watts = More power: Like turning up the faucet, higher wattage means more electrical "flow."
• Watts per hour: Just as we measure car speed in miles per hour, electrical power is often measured in watt-hours (Wh).

A Watt is a Measurement of Electrical Power That Flows Through an Electrical Circuit

So a watt is a measurement that tells you how much electrical power something is using.

A higher wattage means more water is flowing through the hose while a lower wattage means less water is flowing through the hose.

When powering a device, the higher the wattage the device needs to run, the more watts are required for the device to be powered. This is critical to understand, because everything - your television, lights, microwave, everything - is powered by watts.

Watts Are Measured By Hour

Just as driving speed is measured in miles per hour, the amount of power that moves through an electrical system is measure in watts per hour.

If your refrigerator has a 500W requirement to be powered, and you want to run it for one hour, that means you need a power source that outputs at least 500 watt hours.

Understanding watts is crucial because everything electronic – from your smartphone to your refrigerator – runs on them. Here's a quick power scale to spark your imagination:

• Kilowatt (kW) = 1,000 watts (Think: household appliances)
• Megawatt (MW) = 1,000,000 watts (Think: powering a small town)
• Gigawatt (GW) = 1,000,000,000 watts (Think: Back to the Future level power!)

The Secret Watt Formula: How Watts Work In A Power System

Watts don't work alone. They're the result of a powerful partnership between voltage (V) and amperage (A). Here's the magic equation:

Watts (W) = Volts (V) x Amps (A)

• Voltage: Think of this as electrical "pressure" – how hard the electricity is being pushed. Like water flowing through a hose, the higher the pressure you turn on at the tap, the harder the water shoots out.
• Amperage: Amperage, also called amps or current, is the amount of electricity flowing through. This is like the width of the hose. A wider hose opening will allow more water to flow. Similarly, thicker wires or higher voltage can allow more electricity to flow.

For example, a refrigerator that requires 12V and 50A would be using 600W of power (12V x 50A = 600W).

How to Find Your Device's Wattage

Most appliances and electronics have a label that shows their wattage. Look for it on the back or bottom of the device, or check the user manual. It might say something like "10W" or "120V 5A" (the "V" stands for voltage and the "A" stands for amperage).

If the label only shows volts and amperage, simply multiply the two together and you will have the watts. For instance, a device that is rated at 120V and 5A would be rated at 600W.

How To Use Watts to Calculate the Best Power Supply for Your Needs

Portable power banks and generators come with wattage ratings. These ratings tell you how much power they can provide to your devices. Choosing the right one depends on the wattage of the things you want to charge or run.

Here's a wattage guide to get you started:

• Low Wattage (1-100W): Perfect for charging smartphones, tablets, and other small gadgets.
• Medium Wattage (100-500W): Great for laptops, cameras, televisions, and some portable game consoles.
• High Wattage (500W and up): Ideal for powering appliances like refrigerators, microwaves, and some power tools (be sure to check the wattage of your specific appliance!). The higher the wattage, the more it can power. If you go high enough, you can power an entire home!

Remember: It's always better to have a little extra wattage than not enough.

Watt's Next?

Armed with your new knowledge of watts, you're ready to make informed decisions about powering your life. Whether you're camping off the grid or you need backup power for your home, understanding watts ensures you'll always have the right amount of power to keep you powered up.

Remember, in the world of portable power, watts are your best friends – helping you match the perfect power source to your device's hunger for electricity. Now go forth and power up your world, one watt at a time!