Current Converter
Milliampere (mA)
Definition: A milliampere (symbol: mA) is a submultiple of the ampere, equal to one-thousandth (1/1,000) of an ampere.
History/origin: The prefix "milli-" comes from Latin, meaning a thousandth part. As electronics shrank in size during the 20th century, measuring current in whole amperes became impractical, leading to the widespread adoption of the milliampere.
Current use: Milliamperes are heavily used in small electronics, calculating LED power limits, and rating smartphone or laptop batteries (which are usually rated in mAh - milliampere-hours).
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.
Milliampere (mA) to Ampere (A) Conversion Table
| Milliampere (mA) [ma] | Ampere (A) [a] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 ma | 0.00001 a |
| 0.1 ma | 0.0001 a |
| 1 ma | 0.001 a |
| 2 ma | 0.002 a |
| 3 ma | 0.003 a |
| 5 ma | 0.005 a |
| 10 ma | 0.01 a |
| 20 ma | 0.02 a |
| 50 ma | 0.05 a |
| 100 ma | 0.1 a |
| 1000 ma | 1 a |
How to Convert Milliampere (mA) to Ampere (A)
1 ma = 0.001 a
1 a = 1000 ma
Example: convert 15 ma to a:
15 ma = 15 × 0.001 a = 0.015 a
Did You Know?
- The human body is incredibly sensitive to electrical current. A current of just 10 milliamperes (mA) is enough to cause painful shocks and severe muscle contractions.
- 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!