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Power Converter Tool

Convert between different units of power including watts, kilowatts, horsepower, BTU/h and more. Perfect for electrical, mechanical, and thermal power calculations with instant accurate results.

⚡ Power & Energy Rate Conversion

Conversion Result
1.00
kilowatts
1000 W ÷ 1000 = 1.00 kW

📊 Common Power References

💡 LED Light Bulb
≈ 100 W (0.1 kW, 0.134 hp)
🔥 Hair Dryer
≈ 1500 W (1.5 kW, 2.01 hp)
🏠 Electric Heater
≈ 3000 W (3 kW, 4.02 hp)
🚗 Car Engine
≈ 150 hp (111.9 kW, 111,900 W)
🚛 Truck Engine
≈ 500 hp (372.8 kW, 372,800 W)
💨 Wind Turbine
≈ 2 MW (2000 kW, 2,682 hp)
⚡ Power Plant
≈ 1000 MW (1,000,000 kW, 1.34M hp)
🚢 Ship Engine
≈ 100,000 hp (74.6 MW, 74,600 kW)

How to Use Our Power Converter

Follow these simple steps to convert between different power and energy rate units accurately and instantly.

📏 Step 1: Enter Power Value

Input the power value you want to convert in the "From" field. You can enter any positive number, including decimals. The converter accepts power values from milliwatts to megawatts and beyond.

🎯 Step 2: Select Source Unit

Choose the unit of the power you're converting from using the dropdown menu. We support watts, kilowatts, horsepower, BTU/h, and many other power units commonly used in engineering and physics.

🔄 Step 3: Choose Target Unit

Select the unit you want to convert to from the second dropdown. Use the swap button (⇄) to quickly exchange source and target units for reverse conversion calculations.

⚡ Step 4: View Results

Get instant conversion results with the mathematical formula displayed. Copy the result to your clipboard or use the quick conversion suggestions for common power unit conversions.

Understanding Power Units

Learn about different power units used in electrical, mechanical, and thermal applications.

⚡ Electrical Power Units

Common power units used in electrical engineering and household applications.

  • Watts (W) - SI base unit for power, named after James Watt
  • Kilowatts (kW) - 1000 watts, commonly used for appliances
  • Megawatts (MW) - 1 million watts, used for power plants
  • Joules per second (J/s) - Equivalent to watts in SI units

🔧 Mechanical Power Units

Power units commonly used in automotive, industrial, and mechanical applications.

  • Horsepower (hp) - Imperial unit, approximately 745.7 watts
  • Metric Horsepower (PS) - European standard, 735.5 watts
  • Foot-pounds per second (ft⋅lbf/s) - Imperial mechanical power
  • Erg per second (erg/s) - CGS unit system power measure

🌡️ Thermal Power Units

Power units used in heating, cooling, and thermal energy applications.

  • BTU per hour (BTU/h) - British Thermal Units per hour
  • Calories per second (cal/s) - Heat energy rate measurement
  • Tons of refrigeration - Cooling capacity measurement
  • Therms per hour - Natural gas energy rate

📐 Conversion Formulas

Key conversion factors for quick calculations and understanding power relationships.

  • 1 kW = 1000 W = 1.341 hp = 3412.14 BTU/h
  • 1 hp = 745.7 W = 0.7457 kW = 550 ft⋅lbf/s
  • 1 BTU/h = 0.293 W = 0.000393 hp
  • 1 cal/s = 4.184 W = 0.00561 hp

Power Conversion Applications

Discover how power conversion is essential across various industries and applications.

🏠 Home & Appliances

Understanding power consumption helps optimize energy usage and reduce electricity bills. Common household applications include calculating electricity costs, sizing backup generators, and comparing appliance efficiency ratings.

🚗 Automotive Industry

Converting between horsepower and kilowatts is essential for engine specifications, electric vehicle performance comparisons, and international vehicle standards compliance across different markets.

🏭 Industrial Engineering

Industrial applications require precise power calculations for motor sizing, energy audits, power factor corrections, and optimizing manufacturing processes for maximum efficiency.

🌱 Renewable Energy

Solar panel output, wind turbine capacity, and energy storage systems all require power unit conversions for system design, performance monitoring, and grid integration calculations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between power and energy? +
Power is the rate of energy transfer or consumption, measured in watts. Energy is the total amount of work done or heat transferred, measured in joules or kilowatt-hours. Power tells you how fast energy is used, while energy tells you how much total work is done over time.
How do I convert horsepower to kilowatts? +
To convert horsepower to kilowatts, multiply by 0.7457. For example: 100 hp × 0.7457 = 74.57 kW. This conversion is essential when comparing engine specifications between imperial and metric systems or international vehicle standards.
What is the difference between mechanical and electrical horsepower? +
Mechanical horsepower (hp) equals exactly 745.699872 watts, while electrical horsepower equals exactly 746 watts. The difference is minimal (0.04%), and our converter uses the standard mechanical horsepower definition which is most commonly used for engines and motors.
How is BTU/h related to watts? +
BTU per hour (BTU/h) is commonly used for heating and cooling systems. 1 BTU/h equals approximately 0.293 watts. For HVAC calculations, this conversion helps compare different system capacities and energy efficiency ratings between imperial and metric systems.
Why are there different types of horsepower? +
Different horsepower standards developed in various countries. Mechanical horsepower (745.7W) is used in the US, metric horsepower or PS (735.5W) in Europe, and electrical horsepower (746W) for electric motors. These slight differences reflect historical measurement standards and regional preferences.
How accurate are the power conversions? +
Our conversions use precise conversion factors defined by international standards. Results are calculated to 6 decimal places, providing accuracy suitable for engineering, scientific, and commercial applications. The conversion factors are based on exact definitions from the International System of Units.
Can I convert watts to BTU for heating systems? +
Yes, you can convert watts to BTU/h for heating system comparisons. 1 watt equals approximately 3.412 BTU/h. This conversion is useful when comparing electric heaters (rated in watts) with gas or oil heating systems (rated in BTU/h) to determine heating capacity and efficiency.
What power unit should I use for electric motors? +
Electric motors are typically rated in watts (W) or kilowatts (kW) for international applications, or horsepower (hp) in the United States. Industrial motors often use kilowatts, while smaller motors may be rated in watts. The choice depends on your region and industry standards.

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