⚡ Power Converter
Microwave says 1200 W, car says 150 hp, furnace says 50,000 BTU/h. All are power — energy per second — but wildly different numbering.
Last updated — conversions use exact ISO unit definitions.
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How it works
All power conversions route through the watt (W = 1 joule per second). The key distinction is between mechanical horsepower (1 hp = 745.7 W) and metric horsepower (1 PS = 735.5 W), sometimes called "pony power" or "CV" in Europe. They differ by about 1.4%.
Kilowatts (kW) are standard in the US for car engines now, but Europe still uses PS/hp interchangeably. One kW ≈ 1.341 hp (mech) ≈ 1.360 PS (metric). Electric motors are rated in kW; IC engines in hp or PS depending on region.
BTU/h and calories/min are thermal power units. 1 kW ≈ 3,412 BTU/h ≈ 143.3 cal/min. Furnaces and air conditioners use BTU/h; industrial heating may use kW.
Real-world applications
Car engine output: A Toyota Camry makes 203 hp (mechanical) = 206 PS (metric) = 151 kW. European ads use PS; US ads use hp. The difference is tiny but kW is 32% lower.
Solar panels: A typical home system is 5-10 kW peak. A 6 kW system generates about 7,200 kWh/year. A single panel is 300-400 W. 1 kW peak = 1.34 hp.
Watt vs horsepower
1 mechanical hp = 745.7 W. 1 metric hp (PS) = 735.5 W. James Watt coined the term in 1775 as a marketing number — roughly how much work a horse could do per hour. Two conflicting definitions persist.
How accurate are these conversions?
All conversions use ISO 80000 standard unit definitions. For example, 1 inch = 2.54 centimeters exactly by international agreement.
Why can't I see all units on mobile?
The result table scrolls horizontally. The headline pair above shows the most commonly requested conversion.
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