OT: watts, amps, volts, resistance, blah blah blah
12-18-2002, 06:45 AM
#1
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OT: watts, amps, volts, resistance, blah blah blah
So, i've learned this stuff more than a few times and i can never make it stick. I don't know what my problem is.
Does anyone have a logical way to remember how to remember all of it. I don't want some cute way to memorize it, but i want to learn it.
Any help is greatly appreciated.
... and why do the europeans use 220V and the US uses 110V. That pisses me off too.
Does anyone have a logical way to remember how to remember all of it. I don't want some cute way to memorize it, but i want to learn it.
Any help is greatly appreciated.
... and why do the europeans use 220V and the US uses 110V. That pisses me off too.
12-18-2002, 07:15 AM
#2
It's simple as pie.
here goes: P=I*E E=I*R
P is power in watts
E is volts
I is current in amps
R is resistance in ohms
just transpose the formulas to solve for the
missing value.
Good luck and have fun,
Bill
<img src="graemlins/yltype.gif" border="0" alt="[typing]" />
here goes: P=I*E E=I*R
P is power in watts
E is volts
I is current in amps
R is resistance in ohms
just transpose the formulas to solve for the
missing value.
Good luck and have fun,
Bill
<img src="graemlins/yltype.gif" border="0" alt="[typing]" />
12-18-2002, 07:23 AM
#3
Nordschleife Master
I don't have an "easy" way to remember it all, but one of the most important formulas that you will end up using all the time is watts/volts = amps. (And Ohm's law is pretty handy for figuring out how big to make your wires.)
If you look at the above formula you can see that by increasing volts you get a lower amp draw. You can push much more current through the same wire. That is why Europe is on 220v AC. It is better, but you need to pay attention to insulation.
And you will see new cars come out with 36/42 volt DC systems in the next few years. More current capacity. The 42 volt (3 times 14) was picked because ~ 50 volts at that large amperage will knock you on your butt seeing stars and they didn't want the extra expense of insulation on all the terminals.
A couple of neat items from this change will be electronic valves that you can program anyway you want on the fly. Forget camshafts, they are history.
And you can have a huge starter motor/generator. When you come to a stop signal the whole motor shuts down. Step on the gas and it fires up in a fraction of a second and you are on your way. Should be quite the gasoline saver!
So makes sense to learn the old formulas as they have many practicle applications to keep you on top of things.
If you look at the above formula you can see that by increasing volts you get a lower amp draw. You can push much more current through the same wire. That is why Europe is on 220v AC. It is better, but you need to pay attention to insulation.
And you will see new cars come out with 36/42 volt DC systems in the next few years. More current capacity. The 42 volt (3 times 14) was picked because ~ 50 volts at that large amperage will knock you on your butt seeing stars and they didn't want the extra expense of insulation on all the terminals.
A couple of neat items from this change will be electronic valves that you can program anyway you want on the fly. Forget camshafts, they are history.
And you can have a huge starter motor/generator. When you come to a stop signal the whole motor shuts down. Step on the gas and it fires up in a fraction of a second and you are on your way. Should be quite the gasoline saver!
So makes sense to learn the old formulas as they have many practicle applications to keep you on top of things.
12-18-2002, 11:10 AM
#4
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[quote]Originally posted by IceShark:
<strong>So makes sense to learn the old formulas as they have many practicle applications to keep you on top of things.</strong><hr></blockquote>
They do indeed. I could have taken the easy route and went and looked it up, but i just wanted to share just in case anyone else was a bit rusty on the subject. I still want more information. I'll see if i can find what i am looking for. I would post the question, but I'd rather not look like a complete idiot, just a partial one.
<strong>So makes sense to learn the old formulas as they have many practicle applications to keep you on top of things.</strong><hr></blockquote>
They do indeed. I could have taken the easy route and went and looked it up, but i just wanted to share just in case anyone else was a bit rusty on the subject. I still want more information. I'll see if i can find what i am looking for. I would post the question, but I'd rather not look like a complete idiot, just a partial one.
12-18-2002, 01:14 PM
#5
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There's a great book on the subject at Radio Shack called "Getting Started in Electronics." I read it cover to cover when I was 8. Still have it as a reference (in addition to the BSME degree and all associated text books). But in the end, E=IR and P=IE, as previously mentioned.
12-18-2002, 01:25 PM
#6
Three Wheelin'
<a href="http://www.ibiblio.org/obp/electricCircuits/index.htm" target="_blank">Lessons In Electric Circuits</a>
[quote]A free series of textbooks on the subjects of electricity and electronics<hr></blockquote>
[quote]A free series of textbooks on the subjects of electricity and electronics<hr></blockquote>
<img src="graemlins/nono.gif" border="0" alt="[nono]" />
