Current Converter
Ampere (A)
Definition: The ampere (symbol: A), often shortened to "amp", is the base unit of electric current in the International System of Units (SI). It represents the flow of electric charge across a surface at the rate of one coulomb per second.
History/origin: It was named after the French mathematician and physicist André-Marie Ampère, considered one of the main discoverers of electromagnetism. The ampere was originally defined in terms of the force between two parallel current-carrying wires.
Current use: The ampere is the universal standard for measuring electrical current in almost all electrical systems, from household appliances and wiring to industrial machinery.
Kiloampere (kA)
Definition: A kiloampere (symbol: kA) is a multiple of the ampere, equal to one thousand (1,000) amperes.
History/origin: The prefix "kilo-" indicates a thousand. It became necessary to have a larger unit as national electrical grids and heavy industrial electrical applications expanded rapidly in the late 19th and 20th centuries.
Current use: Kiloamperes are used to measure massive electrical flows in high-voltage power distribution grids, industrial electroplating facilities, and when evaluating the protective short-circuit capacity of heavy-duty circuit breakers.
Ampere (A) to Kiloampere (kA) Conversion Table
| Ampere (A) [a] | Kiloampere (kA) [ka] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 a | 0.00001 ka |
| 0.1 a | 0.0001 ka |
| 1 a | 0.001 ka |
| 2 a | 0.002 ka |
| 3 a | 0.003 ka |
| 5 a | 0.005 ka |
| 10 a | 0.01 ka |
| 20 a | 0.02 ka |
| 50 a | 0.05 ka |
| 100 a | 0.1 ka |
| 1000 a | 1 ka |
How to Convert Ampere (A) to Kiloampere (kA)
1 a = 0.001 ka
1 ka = 1000 a
Example: convert 15 a to ka:
15 a = 15 × 0.001 ka = 0.015 ka
Did You Know?
- Did you know? A typical household circuit breaker is rated for 15 to 20 Amperes. In contrast, a massive lightning strike can carry up to 30,000 Amperes!
- Kiloamperes are huge! They are used to measure the output of massive power plants, industrial aluminum smelting, or the immense current flowing through a lightning bolt.