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Electrical

Ohm's Law Calculator

Solve for voltage, current, resistance, or power from the other two — V = IR and P = VI, for DC circuits and resistive AC loads.

Your circuit

The two input labels change with the chosen unknown. Results update as you type. All calculations run locally in your browser.

Current

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Power: —Check: —

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Formula

V = I × R, and P = V × I. From those two, every other form follows: I = V ÷ R, R = V ÷ I, P = I² × R, P = V² ÷ R. The "Check" chip recomputes the solved value through the other relation to confirm consistency.

Worked example

Solve for current with V = 12 V and R = 4 Ω: I = V ÷ R = 12 ÷ 4 = 3.00 A. Power = V × I = 12 × 3 = 36.00 W. Check through the other form: P = V² ÷ R = 144 ÷ 4 = 36.00 W — consistent.

Scope and limitations

This is DC and resistive AC: it assumes voltage and current are in phase and resistance is constant. It does not cover reactive AC circuits (inductors, capacitors, phase shift) or temperature-dependent resistance — a filament lamp's resistance rises sharply as it heats, so cold resistance gives a misleading current. Zero resistance means a short circuit: current is unbounded in the ideal model, so the page refuses division by zero rather than showing infinity. Real circuits always have some resistance and a supply with a current limit.

FAQ

Which two values do I need?

Any two of voltage, current, and resistance determine the third — and power follows from any voltage-current pair. Pick the unknown above and enter the two you know.

Why does the page refuse zero resistance?

Because I = V ÷ R with R = 0 is a short circuit: the ideal model predicts infinite current. Real supplies limit current or fail; no finite answer exists, so the page says so.

Does this work for AC mains?

For resistive loads (heaters, incandescent lamps) yes, using RMS voltage and current. For motors and electronics with inductance or capacitance, use impedance and phase-aware calculations instead.

What is the power rating warning about?

A resistor converts power to heat. A 36 W result through a 0.25 W resistor would destroy it — always check the component's power rating against the computed power, not just the resistance value.

Volts, amps, ohms — which unit scale?

Base SI units here: volts, amps, ohms, watts. For milliamps, divide by 1,000 first (500 mA = 0.5 A); for kilohms, multiply by 1,000 (4.7 kΩ = 4700 Ω).

Can I solve for power directly?

Yes: choose Power and enter voltage and current. The page also shows the implied resistance (V ÷ I) as the check value.

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Results are estimates only and do not constitute professional advice.