Power Converter
Kilowatt
Definition: A kilowatt (symbol: kW) is a multiple of the watt, equal to one thousand (1,000) watts.
History/origin: As electrical systems grew in scale, the kilowatt became a more practical unit for expressing the power consumption of buildings and the output of small engines.
Current use: Kilowatts are the standard unit for expressing the power of car engines (alongside HP) and for measuring electrical demand on utility bills.
Watt
Definition: The watt (symbol: W) is the SI unit of power, defined as one joule of energy per second. It measures the rate of energy transfer or conversion.
History/origin: Named in honor of the Scottish inventor James Watt for his contributions to the development of the steam engine. It was adopted by the Second Congress of the British Association for the Advancement of Science in 1889.
Current use: The watt is used globally to measure the power of household appliances (like light bulbs and vacuum cleaners) and the output of electronic devices.
Kilowatt to Watt Conversion Table
| Kilowatt [kw] | Watt [w] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 kw | 10 w |
| 0.1 kw | 100 w |
| 1 kw | 1000 w |
| 2 kw | 2000 w |
| 3 kw | 3000 w |
| 5 kw | 5000 w |
| 10 kw | 10000 w |
| 20 kw | 20000 w |
| 50 kw | 50000 w |
| 100 kw | 100000 w |
| 1000 kw | 1000000 w |
How to Convert Kilowatt to Watt
1 kw = 1000 w
1 w = 0.001 kw
Example: convert 15 kw to w:
15 kw = 15 × 1000 w = 15000 w
Did You Know?
- Electric vehicles (EVs) often have their engine power rated in Kilowatts (kW) instead of Horsepower, as it is a more precise metric for electric motors.
- The Watt is named after James Watt, but ironically, he never used "Watts" to measure power during his lifetime; he primarily used horsepower!