What Is an Electric Conductance Converter?
An electric conductance converter is a dedicated tool that allows you to instantly translate measurements of how easily electricity flows through a material from one unit to another. It helps engineers, students, and scientists seamlessly switch between SI units like the siemens, historical units like the mho, and specific absolute physics units.
Electric conductance is defined as the reciprocal of electrical resistance. While resistance (measured in ohms) measures how much a material opposes the flow of electric current, conductance measures how freely that same current is allowed to pass. The mathematical formula is simple: G = 1 / R, where G stands for conductance and R stands for resistance.
The internationally recognized derived SI unit for conductance is the siemens (S), named in honor of the German inventor and industrialist Ernst Werner von Siemens. Historically, and still in use by some practitioners today, conductance was measured in "mhos." The term "mho" was playfully coined by Lord Kelvin in the late 19th century—it is simply the word "ohm" spelled backward, symbolizing that conductance is the mathematical inverse of resistance.
How to Use This Converter
Converting electric conductance values is quick and straightforward using our calculator:
- Filter by Group (Optional): If you want to limit the unit lists to specific systems (like Metric, Historical, or Physics units), use the dropdown filter at the top of the converter.
- Enter the Value: Type the numerical value of conductance you wish to convert into the "Enter Value" box. It accepts whole numbers, decimals, and scientific notation.
- Select Your Units: Choose your starting unit from the "From" dropdown, and your desired resulting unit from the "To" dropdown.
- Click Convert: The tool will instantly calculate the result, displaying a large output. It will also generate a complete table below, showing your input value converted into every other available conductance unit simultaneously.
Understanding the Unit Groups
Conductance can be measured using several different systems, depending on the specific scientific or historical context of the work being performed.
Metric Units (SI System)
The siemens (S) is the standard SI unit of electric conductance. In everyday applications, pure siemens are often too large or too small to be practical, so standard metric prefixes are utilized. For example, microsiemens (µS) and millisiemens (mS) are frequently used to measure the electrical conductivity of water, which is a great indicator of water purity. Large-scale power grid components may utilize kilosiemens (kS) or megasiemens (MS).
Historical & Practical Units
Before the siemens was officially adopted internationally, the mho (℧) was the standard unit of conductance. Because it is a direct 1:1 equivalent with the siemens (1 mho = 1 siemens), you will frequently find "mho" used in older textbooks, vintage electronics schematics, and older laboratory equipment. The gemmho is another historical term, specifically meaning "one micromho," often used in the testing of vacuum tubes.
CGS & Physics Units
In theoretical physics and electromagnetism, the Centimeter-Gram-Second (CGS) system of units is sometimes favored over the SI system. Within this scope, you have the abmho (used in the absolute electromagnetic system, equal to one billion siemens) and the statmho (used in the electrostatic system, an extremely small unit). Additionally, the Quantized Hall Conductance is a fundamental constant of nature related to the quantum Hall effect, utilized heavily in quantum physics and advanced metrology.
Common Electric Conductance Conversions
Here are a few of the most frequently used conversions that electronics professionals and chemists encounter:
- Siemens to Mho: As these units are identical, 1 S = 1 mho.
- Millisiemens to Microsiemens: There are 1,000 microsiemens in one millisiemens. To convert, multiply your mS value by 1,000.
- Siemens to Microsiemens: Multiply your value in siemens by 1,000,000 to find the equivalent in microsiemens (µS).
- Mho to Millimho: 1 mho is equal to 1,000 millimhos.
- Ampere per Volt to Siemens: By definition (I/V = G), one ampere per volt is exactly equal to one siemens.
Tips for Accurate Conversion
When working with electric conductance, always remember that conductance is highly dependent on temperature. The values you calculate or convert are specific to the temperature at which the original measurement was taken. Furthermore, when dealing with very large or very small numbers—such as converting siemens to statmhos—relying on scientific notation (e.g., 1.5e-6) ensures you don't lose precision by dropping decimal places.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is electric conductance?
Electric conductance is the measure of how easily an electric current can flow through a material. It is the exact reciprocal of electrical resistance. If a material has high resistance, it has low conductance, and vice versa.
What is the difference between siemens and mho?
There is no mathematical difference. The siemens (S) is the official SI unit for electric conductance. The mho (ohm spelled backward) is an older, historical unit that represents the exact same value. One siemens equals one mho.
How do I convert siemens to microsiemens?
To convert siemens to microsiemens, multiply the value in siemens by 1,000,000. For example, 1 siemens is equal to 1,000,000 microsiemens.
What is the formula for calculating conductance?
The formula for electric conductance (G) is G = 1 / R, where R is the electrical resistance in ohms. Conductance can also be calculated as G = I / V, where I is current in amperes and V is voltage in volts.
What is an abmho?
The abmho is a unit of electrical conductance in the absolute centimeter-gram-second (CGS) electromagnetic system of units. One abmho is equal to 1,000,000,000 (one billion) siemens.