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ELECTRICAL UNIT CONVERSIONS

This information page provides formulas and documentation to take certain electrical values and convert them into other electrical values.  The formulas below are known and used universally in the Generator Industry but you can use them for computer, network, telecom and powered equipment  

VALUE1-PHASE3-PHASE
WATTS (W)I X E X PFI X E X 1.73 X PF
KILOWATTS (kW)
E X L X PF
1000
E X I X 1.73  X PF
1000
AMPERES (I)
kW X 1000
E X PF
kW X 1000
E X 1.73 X PF
KILOVOLT AMPERES (kVA)
I X E
1000
X E X 1.73
1000
FREQUENCY (Hertz or f)
Rotor Poles X RPM
120
Rotor Poles X RPM
120
RPM (n)
Hertz X 120
Rotor Poles
Hertz X 120
Rotor Poles
NUMBER OF ROTOR POLES (P)
Hertz X 120
RPM
Hertz X 120
RPM
POWER FACTOR (PF)
Actual Watts
I X E
Actual Watts
I X 1.73 X E
HORSEPOWER (HP)
I v E X PF
746 X  EFF
I X E X 1.73 X PF
746 X EFF
AMPERES (when kW is known)
kW X 1000
E X PF
kW X 1000
E X 1.73 X PF
AMPERES (when kVA is known)
kVA X 1000
E
kVA X 1000
E X 1.73
 
I=current in amperes
E=voltage in volts
W=watts
kW=power in kilowatts
kVA=apparent power in kilo-volt-amperes
HP =output power in horsepower
RPM (n)=motor speed in revolutions per minute (RPM)
ns=synchronous speed in revolutions per minute (RPM)
Rotor Poles (P)=number of poles
Hertz (f)=frequency in cycles per second (CPS)
T=torque in pound-feet
EFF=efficiency as a decimal
PF=power factor as a decimal
HP=horsepower

For a detailed explanation of each formula, Click on the links below to go right to it.

To Find Watts
To Find Volt-Amperes

To Find Kilovolt-Amperes
To Find Kilowatts
To Convert Between kW and kVA
To Find kBTUs from Electrical Values


Background

It is often necessary to turn voltage, amperage and electrical "nameplate" values from computer, network and telecom equipment into kW, KVA and BTU information that can be used to calculate overall power and HVAC loads for IT spaces.  The following describes how to take basic electrical values and convert them into other types of electrical values. 

  • NOTE #1:
    The informational nameplates on most pieces of equipment usually display electrical values.  These values can be expressed in volts, amperes, kilovolt-amperes, watts or some combination of the foregoing. 
     

  • NOTE #2:
    If you are using equipment nameplate information to develop a power profile for use in selecting a generator, the total power values will exceed the actual output of the equipment.  Reason:  the nameplate value is designed to ensure that the equipment will energize and run safely.  Manufacturers build in a "safety factor" when developing their nameplate data.  Some nameplates display information that is higher than the equipment will ever need - often up to 20% higher.  The result is that, in total, your profile will "over engineer" the power requirements of the equipment. This is not generally bad, you should just be aware of it.
     

  • NOTE #3:
    We advise:  Develop the power profile using the nameplate information and the formulas below and use the resultant documentation as your baseline.  Why? Because it's the best information available without doing extensive electrical tests on each piece of equipment.   If you must lower your estimates, make sure you have a good reason. In years to come you will want every watt you can get. Better to be "oversized" then "undersized".


The Formulas

To Find Watts

1.     When Volts and Amperes are Known

        POWER (WATTS) = VOLTS x AMPERES

  • We have a appliance with a nameplate shows 2.5 amps.  Given a normal 120 Volt, 60 hz power source and the ampere reading from equipment, make the following calculation:   

        POWER (WATTS) = 120 * 2.5                   ANSWER:  300 WATTS

To Find Volt-Amperes (VA)

1.     Same as above.  VOLT-AMPERES (VA) = VOLTS x AMPERES    ANS:  300 VA

To Find kilovolt-Amperes (kVA)

1.     SINGLE PHASE

        KILOVOLT-AMPERES (kVA) = VOLTS x AMPERES
                                                                1000

        Using the previous example:  120 * 2.5 = 300 VA       300 VA / 1000 = .300 kVA

2.     TWO-PHASE

  • Given:  We have a Sun server with an amp rating of 4.7 and requiring a 208-240 power source.  We'll use 220 volts for our calculations.

        KILOVOLT-AMPERES (kVA) = VOLTS x AMPERES x 2
                                                                  1000

        220 x 4.7 x 2 = 2068          2068 / 1000 = 2.068 kVA

3.     THREE-PHASE

  • Given:  We have a large appliance with nameplate data of  50-amp 208 VAC receptacle.  For this calculation, we will use 21 amps. Do not calculate the value of the plug or receptacle.  Use the value on nameplate.   

        KILOVOLT-AMPERES (kVA) = VOLTS x AMPERES x 1.73
                                                                    1000

        208 x 20.5 x 1.73 = 7,376.72          7,376.72 / 1000 =  7.377 kVA

To Find Kilowatts

  • Finding Kilowatts is a bit more complicated in that the formula includes a value for the "power factor".  The power factor is a nebulous but required value that is different for each electrical device.  It involves the efficiency in the use of the electricity supplied to the system.  This factor can vary widely from 60% to 95% and is never published on the equipment nameplate and further, is not often supplied with product information.  For purposes of these calculations, we use a power factor of .85.  Most generators have a power factor of .80. Whatever the number, it places a slight inaccuracy into the numbers.  Its OK and it gets us very close for the work you need to do.   

1.     SINGLE PHASE

        Given:  We have a medium-sized appliance that draws 6.0 amps. 

        KILOVOLT-AMPERES (kVA) = VOLTS x AMPERES x POWER FACTOR
                                                                             1000

        120 * 6.0 = 720 VA       720 VA * .85 = 612      612 / 1000 = .612 kW

2.     TWO-PHASE

  • Given:  We have a larger appliance with a running amp rating of 4.7 and requiring a 208-240 power source.  We'll use 220 volts for our calculations.

        KILOVOLT-AMPERES (kVA) = VOLTS x AMPERES x POWER FACTOR x 2
                                                                                  1000

        220 x 4.7 x 2 = 2068          2068 x .85 = 1757.8      1757.8 / 1000 = 1.76 kW

3.     THREE-PHASE

  • Given:  We have a very large appliance that shows a requirement for a 50-amp 208 VAC receptacle.  For this calculation, we will use 21 amps. Do not calculate the value of the plug or receptacle.  Use the value on nameplate.   

        KILOVOLT-AMPERES (kVA) = VOLTS x AMPERES x POWER FACTOR x 1.73
                                                                                  1000

        208x20.5x1.73 = 7,376.72    7,376.72 * .85 = 6,720.21    6,720.21/1000=6.27 kW

To Convert Between kW and kVA

  • The only difference between kW and kVA is the power factor.  Once again, the power factor, unless known, is an approximation.  For purposes of our calculations, we use a power factor of .80 which most generators use.  The kVA value is always higher than the value for kW.   

        kW To kVA         kW /  .80 = SAME VALUE EXPRESSED IN kVA
        kVA To kW       kVA *  .80 = SAME VALUE EXPRESSED IN kW

To Find BTUs From Electrical Values

  • Known and Given:   1 kW = 3413 BTUs (or 3.413 kBTUs)
     

  • The above is a generally known value for converting electrical values to BTUs.  Many manufacturers publish kW, kVA and BTU in their equipment specifications.  Often, dividing the BTU value by 3413 does not equal their published kW value.  So much for knowns and givens.  Where the information is provided by the manufacturer, use it.  Where it is not, use the above formula. 

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