Convert between power units: Watt (W), Kilowatt (kW), Horsepower (HP), BTU/h, and kcal/h. Ideal for HVAC systems, motor selection, automotive engineering, and energy efficiency analysis. Includes conversion formulas, real-world examples, and support for both mechanical and metric horsepower.
| Unit | Full Name | Relation to Watt (W) |
|---|---|---|
| W | Watt | 1 W = 1 W |
| kW | Kilowatt | 1 kW = 1000 W |
| HP | Horsepower | - Mechanical HP: 1 HP ≈ 745.7 W - Metric HP: 1 HP ≈ 735.5 W |
| BTU/h | British Thermal Unit per hour | 1 BTU/h ≈ 0.000293071 W 1 W ≈ 3.600 BTU/h |
| kcal/h | Kilocalorie per hour | 1 kcal/h ≈ 1.163 W 1 W ≈ 0.8598 kcal/h |
An air conditioner has a cooling capacity of 3000 kcal/h.
An engine produces 200 HP (mechanical).
A heater outputs 5 kW of power.
One mechanical horsepower (HP) is approximately 745.7 watts.
In metric systems, 1 HP ≈ 735.5 watts.
So, 1 HP = 0.7457 kW.
To convert kilowatts to BTU per hour:
BTU/h = kW × 3600
Example: 2 kW × 3600 = 7,200 BTU/h
Mechanical HP (US): Defined as 550 ft·lbf/s or ~745.7 W.
Metric HP (PS): Defined as 75 kgf·m/s or ~735.5 W.
They are slightly different but often used interchangeably in practice.
1 kilowatt equals 3,600 BTU/h.
This is because 1 watt = 3.6 BTU/h, so 1000 watts = 3,600 BTU/h.
BTU/h (British Thermal Unit per hour) measures the amount of heat energy delivered or removed per hour. It's widely used in HVAC because it directly relates to heating and cooling performance.
For example, a 12,000 BTU/h AC unit can cool a small room effectively.
Yes. Electric motors are rated in both horsepower (HP) and kilowatts (kW). This calculator helps convert between them for comparison, selection, or efficiency analysis.
No. 1 kW ≈ 1.341 HP (mechanical).
So, 1 HP ≈ 0.746 kW.
They are not equal, but commonly compared in industrial and automotive contexts.