What Is Electric Current?
Learn what electric current is and how it determines wire size and safety.
Electric current is the rate at which electric charge flows through a conductor. If electricity is the movement of electrons, then current tells us how much of that movement is happening.
If you have not read What Is Electricity? we recommend starting there first.
How Is Current Measured?
Electric current is measured in Amperes (Amps). One ampere means one coulomb of charge passing through a conductor per second.
- Low current → small electron flow
- High current → large electron flow
- Excess current → overheating risk
Why Current Matters in Wiring
Every electrical appliance draws a specific amount of current.
- LED bulb: 0.1–0.3 A
- Fan: 1–2 A
- Heater: 4–10 A
- Air conditioner: 6–15 A
Wire size selection depends on how much current flows through it.
To understand what pushes current, read What Is Voltage?.
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