Power & Current Converter
Everyday unit conversions in one place: watts, kilowatts, kVA, horsepower and line current. Enter a value in any one box and the rest follow. Three-phase current uses I = P / (√3 × V × pf); single-phase uses I = P / (V × pf).
Converted
Kilowatts -
Watts -
Apparent power -
Horsepower -
Line current -
Formula used -
A note on kW and kVA. Kilowatts are the real power a load actually turns into work and heat. kVA is the total the supply has to deliver, including the reactive part a motor draws and gives back every cycle. Cables, switchgear and generators are sized on kVA, not kW - which is why a 10 kW motor needs more than a 10 kVA supply.
Worked example
A 7.5 kW three-phase motor on a 400 V supply with a power factor of 0.85.
kVA = 7.5 / 0.85 = 8.82 kVA
I = 7500 / (1.732 × 400 × 0.85) = 12.7 A
hp = 7.5 / 0.7457 = 10.1 hp
Conversions only. Nothing here accounts for motor efficiency - a motor nameplate kW is the mechanical output, so the electrical input is higher. Use the motor calculator for that.