Start networking and exchanging professional insights

Register now or log in to join your professional community.

Follow

What is the difference between watts and volt amps?

user-image
Question added by Maher Alasli , service engineer , UNITED WEAVERS
Date Posted: 2013/10/19
muhammad arif
by muhammad arif , Assistant Engineer , Phoenix armour

Electrical power is measured in watts. In an electrical system power (P) is equal to the voltage multiplied by the current.

حسام ناجى
by حسام ناجى , testing and commissioning engineer II , SENDAN INTERNATIONAL COMPANY

dear eng.maher Both watts (W) and volt-amperes (VA) are units of measurement for electrical power. Watts refer to “real power,” while volt-amperes refer to “apparent power.” Usually, electronic products show one or both of these values to provide information about how much energy they will consume or how much current they will draw. Each of these values can be used for various purposes.

hassan qutb
by hassan qutb , Facility&Engineering Manager PMP. , مقاولات خاصه

Watt

An International System unit of power equal to one joule per second

Volt amp..

an electric measurement unit, equal to the product of one volt and one ampere, equivalent to one watt for direct current systems and a unit of apparent power for alternating current systems. Abbr.: VA

Leonardo Banzali
by Leonardo Banzali , Electrical Maintenance-trainer , Sadara Chemical Company

Watts is the unit of Power which equation is  P = V x A x PF,  where P=power, V=volts, A=current, PF=power factor of the your load or system.

Volt-amperes VA equation is VA = V x A, where V=volts & A=current, without the PF.  VA is the standard used rating for transformers as KVA or MVA.

imtiaz jaffar
by imtiaz jaffar , 3rd , Skill Development Centre

the real power in watts is the power that performs work or generates heat. Power in watts is the rate at which energy is consumed (or generated). One watt is one joule (energy) per second (1 W =1 J/s). You pay your utility company for watts expressed as energy, which is power consumed for a time period, typically shown by your utility company in kilowatt-hours. For example, a100-W light bulb left on for10 hours consumes1 kW-hour of energy (100 W x10 hours =1000 W-hours =1 kW-hour).

The apparent power in VA is used to simplify power ratings, making it easier to calculate current draw. Since VA = RMS volts x RMS amps, you can divide the VA rating by your RMS voltage to get the RMS current the device will draw. Knowing the RMS current helps you properly size wires and circuit breakers or fuses that supply current to your device.

HARIKRISHNAN R
by HARIKRISHNAN R , Principal Mechanical Engineer , Methode Electronics, Inc.

Volt-amps is the apprent power.It is the product of RMS current and RMS voltage usually applicable in AC circuits.And watt reffers to the real power.Volt-amp rating is limited by maximum permissible current and the Watt rating by power handling capacity of the device.

محمد زهير محمد عرجان
by محمد زهير محمد عرجان , مسؤول قسم الادوات الكهربائية والمنزلية , المخازن الامريكية التجارية

الفولت هو مقياس شدة التيار التي تقاس بالفولت

الامبير هو مقياس شدة الاستطاعة المستهلكة

الواط هي وحدة القياس العملية للقدرة وهي كمية الطاقة بالجول لكل ثانية

Voltage is a measure of the severity of the current measured in volts

Amps is a measure of the severity of possible consumer

Watt is a unit of measurement for the ability of a process amount of energy Paljol the per second

Syed Muzzumil Haider
by Syed Muzzumil Haider , CNS ENGINEER , Fujairah International Airport

i want to tell you with the help of real life example so that you may easily learn :). if you want to drag a car in a straight line its mean your force is useful, no force is getting waist while if you want to drag a car in a tapper way while you want to move a car straightly. so you are waisting your energy in a tapper way, now how can it relates in voltamp or apperant power is a power utlizes in a taper way just because of leading lagging phenomenon. in industry mostly there is inductive load therefor apperant power exist. and watt is a straight power which is very useful power. 

sayed hassan
by sayed hassan , Electrical Engineer , Sidi Krir Power Station

Both watts (W) and volt-amperes (VA) are units of measurement for electrical power. Watts refer to “real power,” while volt-amperes refer to “apparent power.” 

Dear,

 

Power is being classified into4 categories among those two are real/active power and the other is the apparent power. The unit of real power, which mainly deals with the resistive loads is "watt" wheres the apparent power which deals with the inductive and capacitive loads have the unit VAR(volt ampere)

 

 

More Questions Like This

Do you need help in adding the right keywords to your CV? Let our CV writing experts help you.