3 Amps to Watts
3 A is 690 W at 230 V and 360 W at 120 V (single-phase, power factor 1). Table for DC and three-phase, power factor 0.8, and the formula.
Formula
Worked example
- P = 230 × 3 × 1 = 690 W
- With a power factor of 0.9: P = 230 × 3 × 0.9 = 621 W
On other supplies
| Supply | Voltage | Power at pf 1 | Power at pf 0.8 |
|---|---|---|---|
| DC | 12 V | 36 W | not used |
| DC | 24 V | 72 W | not used |
| DC | 48 V | 144 W | not used |
| Single-phase | 120 V | 360 W | 288 W |
| Single-phase | 230 V | 690 W | 552 W |
| Single-phase | 240 V | 720 W | 576 W |
| Three-phase | 208 V | 1,081 W | 864.6 W |
| Three-phase | 400 V | 2,078 W | 1,663 W |
| Three-phase | 415 V | 2,156 W | 1,725 W |
| Three-phase | 480 V | 2,494 W | 1,995 W |
Three-phase rows use the line-to-line voltage. DC ignores the power factor.
What 3 A looks like
3 A is a table fan, a small heater on its low setting or a typical extension-lead load.
This is an estimate of the load current only. Choosing a cable or a breaker also needs the installation method, the ambient temperature, the voltage drop and the rules you work to.
Frequently asked questions
How many watts is 3 amps?
3 A is 690 W on a 230 V single-phase supply and 360 W on 120 V, both with a power factor of 1. The power depends on the voltage, so it is a different answer on every supply.
What if the power factor is not 1?
The real power falls. At 230 V and a power factor of 0.9, 3 A is 621 W. Heaters and filament lamps are close to 1, while motors and many power supplies are lower.
What about a three-phase supply?
3 A on 400 V three-phase at a power factor of 0.8 is 1,663 W. The line voltage is used with the factor √3 (about 1.732).
Related
Amps to Watts CalculatorAmps to kW2 A to W5 A to W10 A to WCurrent ConverterConversion Centre