Power Converter

How to Use the Power Converter

1. Enter the power value you want to convert in the input field
2. Select the unit you're converting from in the "From Unit" dropdown
3. Choose the unit you want to convert to in the "To Unit" dropdown
4. Click the "Calculate" button to get your conversion result
5. View the result and additional conversions in the results section
6. Use the "Reset" button to clear all fields and start over

About Power Units

Power is the rate at which energy is transferred, used, or transformed. It's measured in various units depending on the application and region. Understanding different power units is essential for engineers, scientists, and anyone working with electrical systems, mechanical systems, or energy calculations.

Common Power Units

• Watt (W): The SI unit of power, equal to one joule per second
• Kilowatt (kW): Equal to 1,000 watts, commonly used for electrical appliances
• Megawatt (MW): Equal to 1,000,000 watts, used for large power plants
• Horsepower (HP): Originally defined as 550 foot-pounds per second
• BTU per Hour: British Thermal Unit per hour, used in heating and cooling

Calculation Steps

The power conversion process involves multiplying the input value by a conversion factor:

1. Identify the source unit and target unit
2. Apply the appropriate conversion factor
3. Multiply the input value by the conversion factor
4. Round the result to an appropriate number of decimal places

Example Calculation

To convert 5 kilowatts to horsepower:

Formulas Used

Our converter uses the following base conversions (all relative to watts):

• 1 Kilowatt = 1,000 W
• 1 Megawatt = 1,000,000 W
• 1 Gigawatt = 1,000,000,000 W
• 1 Horsepower = 745.7 W
• 1 Metric Horsepower = 735.5 W
• 1 BTU/hour = 0.2931 W
• 1 BTU/second = 1,055.1 W
• 1 Calorie/second = 4.184 W

Use Cases and Applications

Electrical Engineering

• Calculating power consumption of electrical devices
• Designing electrical circuits and power systems
• Energy efficiency calculations

Mechanical Engineering

• Motor and engine power ratings
• Mechanical system design
• Power transmission calculations

HVAC and Building Systems

• Heating and cooling load calculations
• Equipment sizing and selection
• Energy consumption analysis

Practical Examples

Example 1: Home Appliance

A microwave oven rated at 1.2 kW:

• In watts: 1,200 W
• In horsepower: 1.61 HP
• In BTU/hour: 4,095 BTU/h

Example 2: Car Engine

A car engine rated at 300 HP:

• In kilowatts: 223.7 kW
• In watts: 223,700 W
• In metric horsepower: 304.2 PS

Example 3: Power Plant

A small power plant generating 50 MW:

• In kilowatts: 50,000 kW
• In watts: 50,000,000 W
• In horsepower: 67,051 HP

Frequently Asked Questions