Amperage Explained
In the UK, homes have a constant supply pressure of 230 volts, but the appliances that we use need different amounts of electricity (at the same pressure) to work. The rate at which the electricity flows to them is measured in units known as amps, which is an unit of electrical current.
Again if we use the principle of water pressure, it too can serve to illustrate the amperage or flow of electricity in this way; The rate at which water flows at a constant pressure could be measured by the amount that comes out of the pipe at any given time, but if the diameter of the pipe was increased and the same pressure maintained, the flow of water would also increase.
In electrical terms, if the pressure of 230 volts was to remain constant, the rate at which the electricity flows is increased to individual appliances by the size of cable feeding it. The cable supplying an electric cooker, for example, would be much larger than the cable supplying a table lamp. |
