Electrical Unit Conversions Page 1 of 7

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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

VALUE 1-PHASE 3-PHASE

WATTS (W) I X E X PF I X E X 1.73 X PF
E X L X PF E X I X 1.73 X PF
KILOWATTS (kW)
1000 1000
kW X 1000 kW X 1000
AMPERES (I)
E X PF E X 1.73 X PF
KILOVOLT IXE I X E X 1.73
AMPERES (kVA) 1000 1000
Rotor Poles X Rotor Poles X
FREQUENCY
RPM RPM
(Hertz or f)
120 120
Hertz X 120 Hertz X 120
RPM (n)
Rotor Poles Rotor Poles
NUMBER OF
Hertz X 120 Hertz X 120
ROTOR POLES
RPM RPM
(P)
POWER FACTOR Actual Watts Actual Watts

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(PF) IXE I X 1.73 X E

HORSEPOWER I v E X PF I X E X 1.73 X PF
(HP) 746 X EFF 746 X EFF
AMPERES (when kW X 1000 kW X 1000
kW is known) E X PF E X 1.73 X PF
AMPERES (when kVA X 1000 kVA X 1000
kVA is known) E 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
motor speed in revolutions per minute
RPM (n) =
(RPM)
synchronous speed in revolutions per
ns =
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

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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".

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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

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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

x2
1000

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

kW

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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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