What is Power Converter?

Convert power measurements between common units including watts, kilowatts, megawatts, horsepower (mechanical and metric), BTU per hour, and foot-pounds per second. Essential for comparing motor ratings, HVAC capacity, and electrical specifications.

Type a value into any unit field and the rest update at once. The conversions use 1 mechanical horsepower = 745.7 W and 1 metric HP (PS) = 735.5 W, so swapping between US and European motor ratings stays exact. Quick-reference chips compare your number against an LED bulb, microwave, car engine, and wind turbine.

How to use

1. Enter a power value in the source unit field (e.g., 750 watts).
2. All equivalent values in other power units update instantly as you type.
3. Copy any converted value to use in engineering calculations or product comparisons.

When to use

• Sizing a generator or UPS by adding wattage of every device you plan to plug in.
• Comparing HP-rated motors against kilowatt ratings on electric replacements.
• Translating an air-conditioner's BTU/h rating into watts for an electricity bill estimate.

Result

Convert a 2.5 HP motor rating to watts (1864.25 W) and kilowatts (1.864 kW) to check if your circuit can handle the load.

FAQ

Why are mechanical HP and metric HP (PS) different numbers?

Mechanical horsepower (745.7 W) was defined by James Watt using foot-pound-force. Metric horsepower or PS (735.5 W) was defined later in continental Europe using kilogram-force. The 1.4% gap matters for engine specs sold across regions.

How do BTU per hour and watts relate for air conditioners?

1 BTU/h equals roughly 0.293 W. A 12,000 BTU/h window unit therefore moves about 3,517 W of heat. Its electrical input is smaller (around 1,000-1,200 W) because the unit moves heat instead of generating it.

Is kilowatt-hour the same as kilowatt?

No. Kilowatt is a rate (energy per second). Kilowatt-hour is the energy used at that rate for one hour. A 2 kW heater running 3 hours consumes 6 kWh. This tool converts power, not energy.

Why doesn't the result match my appliance label exactly?

Appliance labels often round and may show peak rather than continuous draw. Manufacturers also quote either electrical input or mechanical output power. Check whether the label says 'input', 'output', or 'rated' before comparing.

Can I convert kVA here too?

kVA is apparent power, watts are real power. They are equal only when the power factor is 1.0. Resistive heaters are close to 1.0; motors are typically 0.8. This tool covers real power, not the kVA-to-kW step.

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