Electric Current Converter

Our Electric Current Converter is a comprehensive tool that helps you convert between different units of electric current: amperes (A), milliamperes (mA), and microamperes (µA). Whether you’re working on electronics projects, electrical engineering designs, or circuit analysis, this calculator makes current conversion simple and accurate.

Understanding Electric Current Units

Base Unit

Ampere (A)

The ampere is the SI base unit of electric current. One ampere is defined as the flow of 1/1.602176634×10⁻¹⁹ elementary charges (electrons) per second. It’s named after the French mathematician and physicist André-Marie Ampère.

Derived Units

Milliampere (mA)

The milliampere is equal to one-thousandth (1/1000) of an ampere. It’s commonly used in electronics for measuring smaller currents, such as those in consumer electronics and LED circuits.

Microampere (µA)

The microampere is equal to one-millionth (1/1,000,000) of an ampere. It’s used for measuring very small currents, such as those in sensor circuits and low-power devices.

Conversion Formulas

Here are the key conversion formulas between different electric current units:

Ampere to Other Units

• 1 ampere = 1,000 milliamperes
• 1 ampere = 1,000,000 microamperes

Milliampere to Other Units

• 1 milliampere = 0.001 amperes
• 1 milliampere = 1,000 microamperes

Microampere to Other Units

• 1 microampere = 0.000001 amperes
• 1 microampere = 0.001 milliamperes

Common Current References

Here are some common electric current measurements for reference:

• USB 2.0 port current: 500 mA (0.5 A)
• LED current consumption: 20 mA (0.02 A)
• Smartphone charging current: 2,000-3,000 mA (2-3 A)
• Small DC motor current: 100-500 mA (0.1-0.5 A)
• Microcontroller sleep mode: 1-10 µA (0.001-0.01 mA)

How to Use the Calculator

1. Enter a value in any of the input fields
2. The calculator will automatically convert and display the equivalent currents in all other units
3. Use the Reset button to clear all fields and start a new conversion
4. Hover over the input fields for helpful tooltips

Applications

Electric current conversion is essential in many fields:

• Electronics: Designing and analyzing circuits
• Electrical Engineering: Power system calculations
• Battery Technology: Determining charge and discharge rates
• Consumer Electronics: Specifying power requirements
• Sensor Systems: Measuring small signal currents
• Power Supply Design: Calculating current requirements

Tips for Accurate Conversion

1. Always double-check critical measurements
2. Use decimal points for precise measurements
3. Consider rounding to appropriate precision for your application
4. Be aware of significant figures in your measurements

Technical Notes

This calculator provides conversions accurate to six decimal places, which is sufficient for most practical purposes. For extremely precise measurements or scientific applications, please use specialized measuring equipment and conversion tools.

The calculator uses the ampere as its base unit for all conversions, ensuring consistent and accurate results across all unit conversions. All calculations are based on powers of 10, as these units follow the metric system.