Volts vs Amps

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So ive been welding for about 8 months now and I work in a Fab shop but I still have PLENTY to learn. One thing is what is the difference between volts and amps. Ive always heard volts will just shock the piss out of you and amps will kill you: but what is the difference. ThanksAs said by CHENRY:you cant weld on a thingamajig like that. are you even certified to do thingamajig welding ? I once saw an improperly welded thingamajig fail and eleventy twelvoteen things got ballywhacked. I dont think i would risk it.
Reply:I'm not completely clear on it myself, but the impression I got when I learned it was that volts=speed, amps=power. That's how people have been known to survive being struck by lightning, millions of volts, but very low(like less than 1)amp.
Reply:Think of it this way. You have a water system in your house. Water flowing through your pipes, and resistance like going uphill or around bends and such. The pressure in your system is like the voltage in an electrical system. The water that is flowing is like the amperage and the bends and uphill sections is like the resistance. So voltage is pressure amperage is current flow and resistance is force that is opposing flow. A typical transformer welding machine operates on high amperage low voltage but the input power to the machine is low amperage high voltage. ???? how is this possible? The power enters your machine and goes through the transformer which converts it from high voltage low amperage to high amperage low voltage. Voltage amperage and resistance are all proportionate to each other. This is shown in the equation I=V/R or Amperage=Voltage divided by resistance. (Ohms Law) Hope this helps answer your question. Power is a measure of work. The formula is P=ExI. And the units are watts. Power is instintanious so we buy electricity in energy which can be measured because there is time involved and is measured in joules.Last edited by Go1lum; 04-29-2008 at 07:00 PM. --Gol'
Reply:Volts is potential energy, amps is energy in motion (flowing electricity).   You have voltage at your wall outlets, either 115 or 230, or thereabouts.   You have no amps though, untill you ground out the hot to complete the circuit.   With no ground, volts are not doing anything but standing by waiting for further instruction.   Once the circuit is completed, amps start flowing, driven by the voltage, and then some work can be done.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Originally Posted by Go1lumThink of it this way. You have a water system in your house. Water flowing through your pipes, and resistance like going uphill or around bends and such. The pressure in your system is like the voltage in an electrical system. The water that is flowing is like the amperage and the bends and uphill sections is like the resistance. So voltage is pressure amperage is current flow and resistance is force that is opposing flow. A typical transformer welding machine operates on high amperage low voltage but the input power to the machine is low amperage high voltage. ???? how is this possible? The power enters your machine and goes through the transformer which converts it from high voltage low amperage to high amperage low voltage. Voltage amperage and resistance are all proportionate to each other. This is shown in the equation I=V/R or Amperage=Voltage divided by resistance. (Ohms Law) Hope this helps answer your question. Power is a measure of work. The formula is P=ExI. And the units are watts. Power is instintanious so we buy electricity in energy which can be measured because there is time involved and is measured in joules.
Reply:Yep, the water illustration is the same one I use to explain it.Close a valve, and the pressure is still there behind it, but there's no flow.Voltage is required to drive the amperage.  The actual flow of electrons through your body is what will kill you, but you have enough resistance to stop low voltages in most cases.