What is Watts, Volts, and Amps?

What is Watts, Volts, and Amps?

If you’ve ever looked at the specs on your power system or camping gear and you just start zoning out, you’re not alone. Words like watts, volts, and amps can feel like they belong in a high school science class, but they’re the basics of how all your electrical gear works. And once you get them, you’ll have the confidence to choose the right setup for your adventures.

Volts (V): The Push Behind the Power

Think of volts as the pressure in a water hose. The higher the pressure, the harder the water is pushed through. In electrical systems, volts are the “push” that drives electricity through your cables and into your devices.

• A car or caravan system usually runs on 12 volts.

• Some larger setups might use 24V or even 48V for efficiency.

• A phone charger at home runs off 240V mains power, which is stepped down inside the adapter. If you want to run 240V appliances while being off grid, you will need an inverter.

Amps (A): The Flow of Electricity

If volts are the pressure in a water hose, amps are the flow—the amount of water moving through it. In electrical terms, this flow of electricity is called current, and it’s measured in amps (A).

• High-draw appliances like a coffee machine or induction cooker pull a lot of amps (more water flowing).

• Low-draw devices like LED lights or phone chargers only use a few amps (a gentle trickle).

• The more amps flowing through your system, the faster your battery drains—and the thicker your cables need to be to carry it safely.

Watts (W): The Total Power Used

Watts are simply the combination of volts and amps. It’s the actual amount of power being used. The formula is simple:

Watts = Volts × Amps

• A 12V fridge pulling 5A = 60 watts.

• A 240V coffee machine pulling 5A = 1,200 watts.

• This is why big appliances chew through batteries fast — the wattage is much higher.

Why It Matters for Your Setup

Understanding these three terms helps you:

• Size your battery bank properly (so you don’t run out of power halfway through a trip).

• Choose the right cables (undersized cables can overheat if too many amps flow).

• Pick the right inverter (to handle the wattage of your appliances).

A Quick Rule of Thumb

• Volts = Pressure

• Amps = Flow

• Watts = Total Power

Once you start looking at your gear this way, you’ll be able to compare appliances and make smarter decisions about what you bring, how you charge it, and how long you can stay off-grid.