HVDC > HVDC for laypersons > Electrical units
| Quantity | Name | Symbol |
| Current | Ampere | A |
 | | |
| Voltage | Volt | V |
| | |
| Power | Watt | W |
| | |
Watt = Ampere x Volt
1,000 A = 1 Kiloampere (=kA)
1,000 V = 1 Kilovolt (= kV)
1,000 W = 1 Kilowatt (= kW)
1,000,000 W = 1,000 kW = 1Megawatt (= MW)
Some examples:
Voltage
In a home the voltage in the outlets is normally 220 or 110 Volt.
Large power transmission lines have voltages in the range of 220 - 800 kV.
Power
A normal light bulb consumes 40 - 100 Watt.
A normal home in North America or Europe consumes power in the range of 1 - 10 kW.
A large wind power unit can generate 3,000 kW (= 3 MW)
A large coal or nuclear power station can generate 500 - 4,000 MW.
A power sation of 500 MW is capable of generating enough electricity to power approximately 150,000 homes.