Quick Answer: To convert amps to milliamps, multiply by 1,000. To convert mA to A, divide by 1,000.
Use our free calculator below for instant, accurate conversions for your electronics, solar panels, batteries, and electrical projects.
Amps to Milliamps:
mA = A × 1,000
Milliamps to Amps:
A = mA ÷ 1,000
Example: 2.5 A × 1,000 = 2,500 mA
Amps (A) measure electric current, typically used for larger power systems like home solar, inverters, and household appliances. One ampere represents one coulomb of electric charge passing through a point per second.
Milliamps (mA) are one-thousandth of an amp, often used in small electronics, USB devices, LED circuits, and low-power sensors. The "milli" prefix means 1/1,000.
| Amps (A) | Milliamps (mA) | Common Use |
|---|---|---|
| 0.005 A | 5 mA | LED indicator light |
| 0.02 A | 20 mA | Standard LED |
| 0.25 A | 250 mA | Small motor or fan |
| 0.5 A | 500 mA | USB 2.0 charging |
| 1 A | 1,000 mA | Standard phone charger |
| 2.1 A | 2,100 mA | Tablet fast charging |
| 2.4 A | 2,400 mA | Fast USB charger |
| 5 A | 5,000 mA | Small appliance |
Most USB chargers output between 500 mA (0.5 A) and 2,400 mA (2.4 A). Modern fast chargers can deliver up to 3 A or more. Understanding these conversions helps you choose the right charger for your device and avoid underpowered charging that can damage batteries or slow charging times.
Solar charge controllers often display output current in amps, while battery specifications may use milliamp-hours (mAh) or amp-hours (Ah). Converting between these units ensures proper system sizing and helps calculate how long your batteries will power your devices.
Standard LEDs typically draw 20 mA (0.02 A), while high-power LEDs can draw 350 mA or more. When designing circuits with multiple LEDs in series or parallel, converting to amps helps calculate total current draw and determine the required power supply capacity and resistor values.
Car accessories like dash cams, GPS units, and phone chargers often list power consumption in milliamps. Converting to amps helps determine if your vehicle's electrical system can handle the load without draining the battery or requiring circuit upgrades.
Battery capacity is measured in milliamp-hours (mAh) for small batteries or amp-hours (Ah) for larger ones. A 2,000 mAh battery equals 2 Ah. Understanding these conversions helps estimate runtime and select appropriate batteries for your application.
Definition: An ampere (A) is the standard SI unit used to measure electric current. It represents the amount of electric charge passing a point in a circuit per second. One ampere equals one coulomb of charge flowing per second.
Background: The ampere is named after André-Marie Ampère, a French scientist who was one of the pioneers in the study of electromagnetism. The modern definition of the ampere is based on a fixed value for the charge of a single electron, making it more precise and easier to reproduce in scientific settings.
Application: Amperes are used in nearly all areas of electrical measurement — from household wiring to industrial systems. An amp can also be described in terms of power and voltage using Ohm's Law: Current (A) = Power (W) ÷ Voltage (V).
Definition: A milliampere (mA) is one-thousandth of an ampere. It's commonly used to measure small currents, especially in devices like smartphones, medical sensors, Arduino projects, and other low-power electronics.
Background: The prefix "milli" means 1/1,000, so a milliamp simply expresses a smaller quantity of current than a full amp. This unit makes it easier to work with and communicate precise current values without using many decimal places (e.g., 500 mA is clearer than 0.5 A for small devices).
Application: Milliamps are frequently used in battery capacity ratings (mAh), LED circuits, microcontroller projects, and any system where low-power consumption is essential. Devices like multimeters and current testers often have a dedicated mA measurement range for electronics work.
Multiply the value in amps (A) by 1,000. For example, 2 A × 1,000 = 2,000 mA. This is because "milli" means one-thousandth, so there are 1,000 milliamps in every amp.
An ampere (A) is the standard unit of electric current. A milliampere (mA) is one-thousandth of an amp (1 A = 1,000 mA). Amps are used for larger currents, while milliamps are used for smaller currents in electronics.
Low-power electronics like smartphones, USB chargers, and sensors often consume small amounts of current. Listing in milliamps provides more precise figures and avoids confusing decimal values. For example, 750 mA is clearer than 0.75 A.
Yes! This calculator is useful for working with charge controllers, solar panel ratings, and small DC loads. Many solar system components specify current in different units, so converting helps with accurate system design and compatibility.
The calculator will alert you to enter a positive number. Current values are always positive in practical applications — the direction of current flow is described separately, not with negative numbers.
There are exactly 1,000 milliamps (mA) in 1 amp (A). This is a fixed conversion ratio based on the metric system prefix "milli" meaning one-thousandth.
500 mA equals 0.5 A. Simply divide milliamps by 1,000 to get amps (500 ÷ 1,000 = 0.5). This is a common USB charging current rating.
Yes! Battery capacity is measured in milliamp-hours (mAh) or amp-hours (Ah). Use this calculator to convert between units when sizing batteries for your project. For example, a 5,000 mAh battery equals 5 Ah.
Yes, exactly! 1,000 mA = 1 A. They represent the same amount of current, just expressed in different units. Think of it like 1,000 millimeters equaling 1 meter.
Standard phone chargers provide 1 A to 2.4 A (1,000-2,400 mA). Modern fast chargers can provide 3 A or more. Always check your device's specifications to ensure you're using an appropriate charger.
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