Convert current in amps to power in watts for DC, single-phase AC, or three-phase AC.
Your numbers
Result
Real power
1,200 W
P = V × I = 120 × 10 = 1200
DC and purely resistive AC use P = V × I. For AC, that product is apparent power in volt-amperes (VA) — the actual real power in watts is lower whenever power factor is below 1, because part of the current does no real work. Single-phase uses P = V × I × PF and three-phase uses P = √3 × V × I × PF.
Multiply amps by voltage (and by power factor for AC loads). A 15 A, 120 V DC or purely resistive circuit is 1,800 W; the same current on a 0.9 power factor AC load delivers only 1,620 W of real power.
Apparent power (VA) is just voltage times current. Real power (W) is the portion actually doing work. The gap between them is the reactive power consumed by motors, transformers, and other inductive loads — accounted for by power factor.
For DC there is no power factor to consider — watts equals volts times amps directly. Select DC and the power factor field disappears.
The inverse conversion — power to current instead of current to power.
Solve for voltage, current, resistance, or power directly if you know two of the four.
Once you know the wattage of your loads, size an inverter to run them.
Convert real power (kW) to apparent power (kVA) if your equipment is rated that way.
FigureDesk results are advisory and do not replace a licensed electrician, a qualified engineer, or the applicable local electrical code. Verify any electrical work against your local code and with a qualified professional before relying on it.