Question T5B06
From subelement T5 - T5B
Which is equal to 3000 milliamperes?
Why is this correct?
To convert milliamperes to amperes, divide by 1,000 since there are 1,000 milliamperes in one ampere. Therefore: 3000 milliamperes ÷ 1,000 = 3 amperes. Choice A (0.003) divides by 1,000,000 instead of 1,000. Choice B (0.3) divides by 10,000. Choice C multiplies instead of divides, giving an impossibly large result.
Memory tip
Remember the metric prefix 'milli' always means divide by 1,000 when converting to the base unit. This pattern works for milliwatts to watts, millivolts to volts, and any milli-prefix conversion in electronics.
Learn more
Current measurements in amateur radio often use milliamperes for low-power circuits and receive chains, while transmitter final amplifiers draw amperes. Understanding this conversion is essential for calculating power consumption, fuse ratings, and ensuring your power supply can handle your transceiver's current requirements during both receive and transmit modes.
Think about it
Why do you think amateur radio equipment specifications often list current draw in milliamperes for receive mode but amperes for transmit mode?