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).
Microampere (μA)
Definition: A microampere (symbol: μA) is a unit of electric current equal to one-millionth (1/1,000,000) of an ampere.
History/origin: The prefix "micro-" is derived from the Greek word "mikros," meaning small. It was officially adopted to measure the incredibly tiny currents found in advanced semiconductor technology.
Current use: It is used extensively in microelectronics, sensitive scientific measuring instruments, and medical devices that monitor bioelectric currents, such as pacemakers and ECG machines.
Milliampere (mA) to Microampere (μA) Conversion Table
| Milliampere (mA) [ma] | Microampere (μA) [ua] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 ma | 10 ua |
| 0.1 ma | 100 ua |
| 1 ma | 1000 ua |
| 2 ma | 2000 ua |
| 3 ma | 3000 ua |
| 5 ma | 5000 ua |
| 10 ma | 10000 ua |
| 20 ma | 20000 ua |
| 50 ma | 50000 ua |
| 100 ma | 100000 ua |
| 1000 ma | 1000000 ua |
How to Convert Milliampere (mA) to Microampere (μA)
1 ma = 1000 ua
1 ua = 0.001 ma
Example: convert 15 ma to ua:
15 ma = 15 × 1000 ua = 15000 ua
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.
- Microamperes are extremely small. The natural electrical currents generated by the human heart and brain to send signals are measured in microamperes.