Comment on Why is amperage more "obscure" than voltage (or watts)?
HubertManne@piefed.social 4 days ago
devices draw the amperage they want so there is not much risk of over amperage but plug something that wants less volts into a more volts source and. erm. not good. wats are bigger because its more a measurement of total power although I see people arguing we should use joules or such.
XeroxCool@lemmy.world 4 days ago
A high amperage device is not what’s at risk. The wiring is. With defined voltages (by way of plug type), devices can’t draw extra amperage, but you can certainly ask the wires for more amperage than they can safely provide. Fuses and circuit breakers do not protect the device, they protect the wires from burning off their insulation, shorting, or catching fire.
But as a caveat, a 120v device plugged into a 220v source will draw too many amps for the device.
HubertManne@piefed.social 4 days ago
yeah for most things though 120 is more than enough and the plug differences prevent it as far as 220 being used in 110. I mean I was just explaining why you do not see it much. I mean its the reason for fuses. I guess the christmass lights thing used to be common enough to be warned against though. One of the rare times I looked into the total amps being supplied to my condo as I was contemplating an on demand water heater.