Main > Main Forum
Volts vs Amps
ChadTower:
I'm studying up on electricity itself in prep for some projects I want to start in the near future. I want to be sure I really understand some concepts and am hoping someone can confirm (or refute) some analogies I'm working on in my head.
I'm thinking of electricity, as I've read, as water in a pipe.
Voltage = forward water pressure. The more voltage, the faster the water will come out THE END of the pipe. Voltage has a vector parallel to the walls of the pipe. Too many volts will damage whatever the water is feeding into (e.g. the sprinkler at the end of the hose).
Amperage = amount of water in the pipe, pressure on the pipe walls. Amperage has a vector perpendicular to the walls of the pipe. Too many amps will cause the pipe walls to burst.
Are those analogies reasonable or am I misunderstanding something?
SirPoonga:
http://science.howstuffworks.com/question501.htm
See, everyone uses the water analogy :)
ChadTower:
Yeah, I was using the water analogy because I've seen reference to it, and it makes sense. Visible physical force is easier to wrap one's mind around than "theoretical" force.
pointdablame:
http://www.bcae1.com/
I point people there with this question because their water diagrams are perfect IMHO. It's a car audio site, so it won't all apply to you (unless that's your project lol), but there is a LOT of good info there.... volt, amp, current, ohm, et al. There are some good diagrams as well.
ChadTower:
No, actually I'm trying to master the concepts involved so that I can dive deeper into monitors, vectors specifically, for an upcoming cab I'd like to design.