600 Watts to Amps
600 W is 2.609 A at 230 V and 5 A at 120 V (single-phase, power factor 1). Table for DC and three-phase, power factor 0.8, and the formula.
Formula
Worked example
- I = 600 / (230 × 1) = 2.609 A
- With a power factor of 0.9: I = 600 / (230 × 0.9) = 2.899 A
On other supplies
| Supply | Voltage | Current at pf 1 | Current at pf 0.8 |
|---|---|---|---|
| DC | 12 V | 50 A | not used |
| DC | 24 V | 25 A | not used |
| DC | 48 V | 12.5 A | not used |
| Single-phase | 120 V | 5 A | 6.25 A |
| Single-phase | 230 V | 2.609 A | 3.261 A |
| Single-phase | 240 V | 2.5 A | 3.125 A |
| Three-phase | 208 V | 1.665 A | 2.082 A |
| Three-phase | 400 V | 0.866 A | 1.083 A |
| Three-phase | 415 V | 0.8347 A | 1.043 A |
| Three-phase | 480 V | 0.7217 A | 0.9021 A |
Three-phase rows use the line-to-line voltage. DC ignores the power factor.
What 600 W looks like
600 W is about the load of a microwave oven on a medium setting, a large desktop computer or a small pump motor.
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 amps is 600 watts?
600 W is 2.609 A on a 230 V single-phase supply and 5 A on 120 V, both with a power factor of 1. The current depends on the voltage, so it is a different answer on every supply.
What if the power factor is not 1?
The current rises. At 230 V and a power factor of 0.9, 600 W draws 2.899 A. Heaters and filament lamps are close to 1, while motors and many power supplies are lower.
What about a three-phase supply?
600 W on 400 V three-phase at a power factor of 0.8 is 1.083 A. The line voltage is used with the factor √3 (about 1.732).
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