What is the Power Converter?
The Power Converter is a professional tool that helps you convert between different units of power measurement. Whether you're working with Watts, Horsepower, BTU per hour, or other power units, this converter provides instant and accurate results for electrical, mechanical, and thermal applications.
Who Needs This Tool?
Car Enthusiasts
Electricians & Engineers
HVAC Technicians
Homeowners
Solar Installers
Students & Educators
Supported Units
Metric (Watt)
Standard SI unit for power measurement
- Gigawatt (GW)
- Megawatt (MW)
- Kilowatt (kW)
- Watt (W)
- Milliwatt (mW)
- Microwatt (μW)
Horsepower
Traditional mechanical power units
- Mechanical Horsepower (hp)
- Metric Horsepower (PS)
- Boiler Horsepower (bhp)
- Electric Horsepower (ehp)
BTU-Based
Thermal power measurement units
- BTU per Hour (BTU/h)
- BTU per Minute (BTU/min)
- BTU per Second (BTU/s)
Other Units
Specialized and scientific measurements
- Foot-pound per Minute (ft·lb/min)
- Foot-pound per Second (ft·lb/s)
- Calorie per Second (cal/s)
- Kilocalorie per Hour (kcal/h)
- Ton of Refrigeration (TR)
- Erg per Second (erg/s)
- 1. What is the Power Converter?
- 2. How to Use the Power Converter
- 3. Features
- 4. Frequently Asked Questions
- 4.1. What is the difference between hp and PS?
- 4.2. How do I convert kW to horsepower?
- 4.3. What is BTU/h used for?
- 4.4. What is a Ton of Refrigeration (TR)?
- 4.5. What is Boiler Horsepower?
- 4.6. How do I size a generator?
- 4.7. What does kW mean on electric car specs?
- 4.8. How accurate are the conversions?
- 4.9. Why are my settings saved?
How to Use the Power Converter
Basic Conversion
Enter a Value
Type your number in the input field. Numbers are automatically formatted with thousand separators for easy readability (e.g., 1,000,000).
Select Source Unit
Choose your starting unit from the dropdown menu. You can type to search for a specific unit quickly.
View Results
Results are instantly displayed below in all enabled units. No button clicking required—conversions happen in real-time.
Customizing Your Experience
Adjust Decimal Precision
Show/Hide Units
Copying Results
Click on any result row to copy that specific value to your clipboard. For multiple values, use the "Copy All Results" button to copy everything at once in a clean, ready-to-paste format.
Quick Reference
Not sure about a unit? Click "Unit Reference" to see a comprehensive table explaining each unit, its value relative to the base unit (Watt), and common use cases.
Tips for Common Conversions
- Car engines: 1 hp (mechanical) ≈ 745.7 W ≈ 1.014 PS (metric)
- European cars: 1 PS = 735.5 W ≈ 0.986 hp
- HVAC systems: 1 ton of refrigeration = 12,000 BTU/h ≈ 3,517 W
- Boilers: 1 boiler horsepower ≈ 9,810 W ≈ 33,475 BTU/h
Features
Instant Conversion
Results update in real-time as you type
- No button clicking required
- Immediate feedback
- Lightning-fast calculations
Comprehensive Unit Support
Convert between 20 different power units
- Electrical measurements
- Mechanical power
- Thermal capacity
- Scientific units
Smart Input Formatting
Automatic number formatting for readability
- Thousand separators
- Easy verification
- Clean display
Searchable Unit Selection
Find units quickly with built-in search
- Type to search
- Filter by name or symbol
- Fast navigation
Customizable Display
Choose which units appear in results
- Group by category
- Toggle individual units
- Focus on relevant units
Precision Control
Select decimal precision level
- 2, 4, 6, or 8 decimals
- Auto mode available
- Engineering accuracy
One-Click Copy
Copy results instantly
- Individual values
- All results at once
- Clean format
Unit Reference Guide
Built-in documentation
- Explains each unit
- Conversion factors
- Typical usage
Works Everywhere
Fully responsive design
- Desktop optimized
- Tablet friendly
- Mobile ready
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between hp and PS?
Mechanical horsepower (hp) is used in the US and UK, equal to 745.7 watts. Metric horsepower (PS), from the German "Pferdestärke," equals 735.5 watts and is commonly used in Europe and Asia.
Quick comparison:
- 100 hp ≈ 101.4 PS
- 100 PS ≈ 98.6 hp
How do I convert kW to horsepower?
Enter your kW value in the converter and look at the hp (mechanical) or PS (metric) result.
Example: A 100 kW motor produces approximately 134 hp or 136 PS.
What is BTU/h used for?
BTU per hour (BTU/h) measures heating or cooling power, commonly used for air conditioners, furnaces, and heaters in the United States.
Conversion: 1 BTU/h = 0.293 watts
Example: A 12,000 BTU/h air conditioner equals approximately 3,517 watts or 1 ton of refrigeration.
What is a Ton of Refrigeration (TR)?
A Ton of Refrigeration is a unit of cooling capacity equal to 12,000 BTU/h or approximately 3,517 watts. It originated from the cooling power needed to melt one ton of ice in 24 hours.
What is Boiler Horsepower?
Boiler horsepower (bhp) measures steam boiler output capacity. It equals 9,809.5 watts or approximately 33,475 BTU/h.
How do I size a generator?
Calculate Total Load
Add up the wattage of all devices you need to power simultaneously.
Check Device Labels
Look for watts on each device label. If only amps are listed, use: volts × amps = watts
Add Safety Margin
Add 20-25% headroom for motor starting surges and future expansion.
What does kW mean on electric car specs?
Electric vehicles list motor power in kilowatts (kW). For comparison with traditional combustion engine cars, you can convert to horsepower.
Quick conversion: Divide kW by 0.746 to get approximate horsepower, or use this converter for exact results.
Example: A 150 kW electric motor produces approximately 201 hp.
How accurate are the conversions?
Conversions use internationally recognized conversion factors with high precision. For most practical purposes, the results are accurate to many decimal places.
Why are my settings saved?
The converter uses your browser's local storage to remember your preferences (selected units, decimal precision, etc.). This provides a personalized experience each time you use the tool.
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