Power Converter
Convert power between watts, kilowatts, horsepower (mechanical and metric), BTU per hour and tons of refrigeration, the units used for engines, heaters and air conditioners.
- Watts
- –
- Kilowatts
- –
- Megawatts
- –
- Horsepower (mechanical)
- –
- Metric horsepower
- –
- BTU per hour
- –
- Tons of refrigeration
- –
How it is calculated
- Everything is converted through watts (W).
- 1 hp (mechanical) = 745.7 W; 1 metric hp (PS) = 735.49875 W
- 1 BTU/h = 0.29307 W; 1 ton of refrigeration = 12,000 BTU/h = 3,516.85 W
- An air conditioner's "1.5 ton" is its cooling output, not the electricity it uses.
Worked example
| You enter | |
|---|---|
| Value | 1 |
| From | Tons of refrigeration (TR) |
| You get | |
| Watts | 3,516.852842 W |
| Kilowatts | 3.516853 kW |
| Megawatts | 0.003517 MW |
| Horsepower (mechanical) | 4.716177 hp |
| Metric horsepower | 4.781589 PS |
| BTU per hour | 12,000 BTU/h |
| Tons of refrigeration | 1 TR |
1 TR equals 3,516.852842 W, 3.516853 kW, 0.003517 MW.
Questions
How much electricity does a 1.5-ton AC use?
A 1.5-ton AC delivers about 5.3 kW of cooling. Because ACs move heat rather than make it, they typically draw only a third to a half of that in electricity; check the input power on the unit's label.
Sources and checks
Last checked: 12 October 2026. This calculator passes 5 automatic tests before every release.
Your numbers never leave your device: the calculation runs in your browser and nothing you type is sent or stored.
Conversions use exact legal definitions where they exist. Results are rounded for display. Results are estimates for information only and are not financial, tax or legal advice. Check important figures with a qualified professional before you act on them.