Electric Current Converter: Amps, Milliamps, Kiloamps & More

How to Use Our Electric Current Converter

Our tool is designed for simplicity and speed. Follow these three steps to convert any current value.

1. Enter Current Value: In the input field, type the number you wish to convert.

2. Select ‘From’ Unit: Using the first dropdown menu, select the unit you are converting from (e.g., Amperes).

3. Select ‘To’ Unit: In the second dropdown menu, select the unit you are converting to (e.g., Milliamperes).

The converted result will appear instantly. For instance, to find out how many milliamperes are in 2 amperes, you would enter “2”, select “Amperes (A)”, and then select “Milliamperes (mA)”.

Input Fields Explained:

• Current: The numerical amount of the electric current (or “amperage”) you are starting with.

• From Unit: The original unit of measurement for your current value.

• To Unit: The target unit of measurement for your final, converted result.

Understanding Your Results

The number provided by the calculator is the equivalent measure of electric current in the new unit you chose. To fully grasp what this number means, it helps to understand what current is and the scale of its units.

What is Electric Current? Think of electric current as the rate of flow of electric charge. The simplest analogy is a river: current is how much water is flowing past a certain point every second. In an electrical circuit, current is the amount of electrons flowing through a wire. This flow is measured in Amperes (A), often shortened to “amps.”

A higher amp value means more electrons are flowing, indicating a stronger current.

Common Current Units and Real-World Scale

Our converter uses standard SI (International System of Units) prefixes. Each prefix represents a power of 10 relative to the base unit, the Ampere. This table gives you a practical sense of their scale.

Converting between these is a matter of multiplying or dividing by powers of 1,000. For example, to go from Amperes to Milliamperes, you multiply by 1,000. To go from Amperes to Kiloamperes, you divide by 1,000.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between current, voltage, and resistance?

These three are the cornerstones of electricity, best explained by Ohm’s Law and the water pipe analogy:

• Current (Amps): This is the flow rate of the water. It’s the volume of electricity actually moving through the circuit.

• Voltage (Volts): This is the water pressure. It’s the force that pushes the current through the circuit.

• Resistance (Ohms): This is the pipe’s narrowness. It’s the opposition to the flow of current. A thin wire has high resistance, while a thick wire has low resistance.

Ohm’s Law mathematically connects them: Voltage = Current × Resistance ($V=IR$). You need voltage (pressure) to push current (flow) against the circuit’s resistance (narrowness).

Why is high current dangerous?

While high voltage is like a powerful punch, it’s the current that actually does the damage to the human body. The danger of an electric shock is determined by the amount of current that flows through your body’s tissues.

• 1 mA (0.001 A): Just a faint tingle.

• 5 mA (0.005 A): A slight, painless shock.

• 10-20 mA (0.01-0.02 A): “Let-go” current threshold is passed. Muscles contract, making it impossible to let go of the source. This is painful.

• 100-300 mA (0.1-0.3 A): This is the most dangerous range. It can cause ventricular fibrillation (the heart’s rhythm is disrupted), which is often fatal.

• Over 300 mA: Can cause severe burns and cardiac arrest.

Wall outlets (which can supply 15 A or more) are extremely dangerous because they can easily deliver a fatal amount of current.

What’s the difference between AC and DC current?

This describes how the current flows in a circuit.

• Direct Current (DC): The current flows steadily in only one direction. This is the type of current supplied by batteries, solar panels, and the power bricks for your laptop and phone.

• Alternating Current (AC): The current rapidly reverses its direction, flowing back and forth. The electricity from your wall outlets is AC. In North America, it changes direction 60 times per second (60 Hz), while in Europe and other regions, it’s 50 Hz. AC is used for power grids because its voltage can be easily changed for efficient long-distance transmission.

What determines how much current an appliance draws?

The amount of current an appliance draws (its “amp draw”) is determined by its power consumption (in Watts) and the voltage it’s designed for. The relationship is Power = Voltage × Current.

Therefore, Current = Power / Voltage.

Concrete Example: A 1200-watt hair dryer plugged into a 120-volt US outlet will draw 1200W / 120V = 10A of current. That same hair dryer, if it were designed for a 240-volt UK outlet, would only draw 1200W / 240V = 5A to produce the same amount of heat.

What does the “amp rating” on a fuse or circuit breaker mean?

The amp rating on a fuse or circuit breaker is a safety limit. It represents the maximum amount of current that can safely flow through that circuit.

• Fuses: A fuse contains a thin wire designed to melt and break the circuit if the current exceeds its rating (e.g., a 15A fuse will “blow”). This is a one-time use device.

• Circuit Breakers: A circuit breaker is a switch that automatically “trips” (flips off) if the current gets too high. It can be reset after the overload problem is fixed.

These devices prevent excessive current from overheating the wires in your walls, which could otherwise start a fire.

How do I measure electric current?

You measure current with a tool called a multimeter or ammeter. Unlike measuring voltage (which is done in parallel), measuring current requires you to make the meter part of the circuit itself (in series).

Important Safety Note: Measuring the current of a household AC circuit is dangerous and should only be done by a qualified electrician. For low-voltage DC circuits (like in a hobby project), you would break the circuit, insert the multimeter probes to complete the circuit, and set the meter to the appropriate current setting (e.g., Amps or Milliamps).

What is the difference between Amps (A) and Amp-hours (Ah)?

This is a very common point of confusion, especially with batteries.

• Amps (A): This measures the rate of flow right now. It’s how much current is being drawn at this very moment. It’s like the speed you are driving.

• Amp-hours (Ah): This measures capacity. It tells you how much total charge a battery can deliver over time. It’s like the size of your car’s gas tank.

Example: A 5 Ah battery can theoretically deliver 5 amps for 1 hour, or 1 amp for 5 hours, or 0.5 amps for 10 hours. It tells you how long the battery will last at a certain current draw.

Does a higher amp rating on a charger charge my phone faster?

Yes, generally. A phone’s internal charging circuitry is designed to draw a certain maximum amount of current.

• An old charger might be rated for 500 mA (0.5A).

• A standard charger might be 1A or 2A.

• A “fast charger” could be 3A or more.

Using a charger with a higher amp rating (that is compatible with your phone) allows the phone to draw more current, refilling its battery more quickly. However, you can’t force it. Plugging a phone designed for 1A charging into a 3A charger won’t harm it; the phone will simply draw its maximum designed current of 1A.

Why do my lights dim when the air conditioner turns on?

This is caused by a phenomenon called “inrush current.” Large motors, like the compressor in an air conditioner or refrigerator, require a very large burst of current for a fraction of a second just to get started—much more than their normal running current.

This sudden, massive current draw causes a temporary drop in the voltage across the entire circuit in your house. Since the power to your lights is Power = Voltage × Current, a drop in voltage causes a momentary dimming of the lights.

Can you have voltage without current?

Yes. Voltage is the potential to do work. A battery sitting on a shelf has a voltage (e.g., 1.5V) across its terminals, but since there is no complete circuit, no current is flowing. It’s like a dam holding back water: the pressure (voltage) is there, but there is no flow (current) until you open the gates (complete the circuit).

Now that you’ve converted your current values, you may want to understand how they relate to other electrical properties. Use our Ohm’s Law Calculator to see the relationship between current, voltage, and resistance. To figure out the power consumption of a device, check out our Power and Watts Calculator.