Power Converter
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.
BTU/hour
Definition: British Thermal Unit per hour (BTU/hr) is a unit of power that represents the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit in one hour.
History/origin: The BTU was established as an energy unit in the UK in the late 19th century. Although the UK has largely switched to the metric system, BTU remains a legacy standard in heating and cooling.
Current use: BTU/hr is the primary unit used to classify the heating and cooling capacity of air conditioners, furnaces, and heaters in the United States and many other countries.
Watt to BTU/hour Conversion Table
| Watt [w] | BTU/hour [btu] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 w | 0.03412142 btu |
| 0.1 w | 0.34121425 btu |
| 1 w | 3.41214245 btu |
| 2 w | 6.8242849 btu |
| 3 w | 10.23642735 btu |
| 5 w | 17.06071225 btu |
| 10 w | 34.1214245 btu |
| 20 w | 68.242849 btu |
| 50 w | 170.60712251 btu |
| 100 w | 341.21424501 btu |
| 1000 w | 3412.14245012 btu |
How to Convert Watt to BTU/hour
1 w = 3.41214245 btu
1 btu = 0.293071 w
Example: convert 15 w to btu:
15 w = 15 × 3.41214245 btu = 51.18213675 btu
Did You Know?
- The Watt is named after James Watt, but ironically, he never used "Watts" to measure power during his lifetime; he primarily used horsepower!
- If you are buying an Air Conditioner (AC), you will see a BTU rating. BTU/hour measures the cooling power; for example, a 1-ton AC is equivalent to 12,000 BTU/hr.