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 | | KILOWATTS (kW) | |
| | AMPERES (I) | |
| | KILOVOLT AMPERES (kVA) | | | | FREQUENCY (Hertz or f) | | |
| RPM (n) | | | | NUMBER OF ROTOR POLES (P) | | | | POWER FACTOR (PF) | | | | HORSEPOWER (HP) | | | I X E X 1.73 X PF | | 746 X EFF |
| | AMPERES (when kW is known) | | | | AMPERES (when kVA is known) | | |
| 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 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 KILOVOLT-AMPERES (kVA) = VOLTS x AMPERES x 2
1000 220 x 4.7 x 2 = 2068 2068 / 1000 = 2.068 kVA 3. THREE-PHASE 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 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 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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