Converting from VA to HP is easy with this calculator, you will also find the formula and some explained examples.
We also show the main equivalences in a table and finally the step by step to fully understand how to convert from VA to HP.
VA to HP conversion formula:
- H.P=Horsepower.
- E=Efficiency.
- P.F=Power factor.
- VA=Volt-Ampere
How to convert VA to HP in only 2 step:
Step 1:
Multiply the power factor by the efficiency of the motor and by the VA. For example, if the motor has an efficiency of 80%, the power factor is 0.9 and the power in VA is 1000VA, you must Multiply 0.8 (80%) by 0.9 and 100VA to get 720, (0,9×0,8×100) = 720.
Step 2:
Divide step 1 between 746, the result will be: 0,97HP ((0,9×0,8×100)/(746) = 0,97HP).
Definition S (VA), F.P, H.P and Efficiency:
VA: VA is the unit of apparent power: It is the total amount of power consumed by electrical equipment.
This apparent power VA, commonly designated with the letter “S” is not really the “useful”, except when the power factor is unity (FP = 1), and points out that the power supply network not only has to satisfy the energy consumed by the resistive elements, but also has to satisfy that which “store” the coils and capacitors.
In other words, S (VA) is the sum of the power in P (Watts) (useful power) that dissipate the equipment in heat or work plus the power in Q (VAR) (power fields) used for the formation of the electric and magnetic fields of its components.
The equipment that present the power in VA are those that have components such as motors and electronic equipment, such as: televisions, computers, hydraulic pumps, refrigerators, air conditioners etc, these equipment if they do not have the power factor corrected internally they present a low factor of power (Fp = 0.9 or less) because in order to function they require, in addition to the Watts, another power, which are the VARs, between the latter two they make the VA, therefore VA = Watts + VAR.
Hp: The horsepower , also called power horse – since it is a measure of power and not force – and in English horsepower , is the name of several units of power measurement used in the Anglo-Saxon system . It denotes hp , HP or Hp , from the English term horsepower , expression that was coined by James Watt in 1782 to compare the power of steam engines with the power of draft horses . Later it was extended to include the output power of the other types of piston engines , as well as turbines , electric motors and other machinery.
Also it is denominated like PS , abbreviation of the German word Pferdestärke , which is translated like Horse of force .
The definition of the unit varies between geographical regions. Most countries now use the SI watt unit for power measurement.
Motor Efficiency: The efficiency of the electric motor is the ratio between the output power (mechanical) and the power input (electrical).
The mechanical power output is calculated based on the torque and speed required (that is, the power required to move the object connected to the motor) and the electrical power input is calculated based on the voltage and current supplied to the motor.
The output of mechanical power is always lower than the input of electrical energy, since the energy is lost during the conversion (electrical to mechanical) in various forms, such as heat and friction.
The design of an electric motor aims to minimize these losses to improve efficiency.
Most electric motors are designed to operate between 50% and 100% of rated load. The maximum efficiency is usually close to 75% of the nominal load.
P.f: The power factor is the ratio between the power of work “util” kW and the apparent power kVA , this measures the efficiency with which electric power is used and are related by this formula fp = kW / kVA.
A high power factor allows an efficient use of energy, while a low power factor indicates a poor use of electrical energy.
Most modern loads are inductive, including: motors, transformers, gaseous tubes, lighting ballasts and induction furnaces.
The working power ( kW ) plus the reactive power (kVAR) is equal to the Apparent power ( kVA ), kVA = kW + kVAR
Typical Un-improved Power Factor by Industry:
| Industry | Power Factor |
| Auto Parts | 0.75-0.80 |
| Brewery | 0.75-0.80 |
| Cement | 0.80-0.85 |
| Chemical | 0.65-0.75 |
| Coal Mine | 0.65-0.80 |
| Clothing | 0.35-0.60 |
| Electroplating | 0.65-0.70 |
| Foundry | 0.75-0.80 |
| Forging | 0.70-0.80 |
| Hospital | 0.75-0.80 |
| Machine Manufacturing | 0.60-0.65 |
| Metalworking | 0.65-0.70 |
| Office Building | 0.80-0.90 |
| Oil field Pumping | 0.40-0.60 |
| Paint Manufacturing | 0.65-0.70 |
| Plastic | 0.75-0.80 |
| Stamping | 0.60-0.70 |
| Steel Works | 0.65-0.80 |
| Tool, dies, jigs industry | 0.65-0.75 |
Typical power factor of common household electronics:
| Electronics device | Power Factor |
| Magnavox Projection TV – standby | 0,37 |
| Samsung 70″ 3D Bluray | 0,48 |
| Digital Picture Frame | 0,52 |
| ViewSonic Monitor | 0,5 |
| Dell Monitor | 0,55 |
| Magnavox Projection TV | 0,58 |
| Digital Picture Frame | 0,6 |
| Digital Picture Frame | 0,62 |
| Digital Picture Frame | 0,65 |
| Philips 52″ Projection TV | 0,65 |
| Wii | 0,7 |
| Digital Picture Frame | 0,73 |
| Xbox Kinect | 0,75 |
| Xbox 360 | 0,78 |
| Microwave | 0,9 |
| Sharp Aquos 3D TV | 0,95 |
| PS3 Move | 0,98 |
| Playstation 3 | 0,99 |
| Element 41″ Plasma TV | 0,99 |
| Current large, flat-screen television | 0,96 |
| Windows-mount air conditioner | 0,9 |
| Legacy CRT-Based color television | 0,7 |
| Legacy flat panel computer monitor | 0,64 |
| While-LED lighting fixture | 0,61 |
| Legacy laptop power adapter | 0,55 |
| Laser Printer | 0,5 |
| Incandescent lamps | 1 |
| Fluorescent lamps (uncompensated) | 0,5 |
| Fluorescent lamps (compensated) | 0,93 |
| Discharge lamps | 0,4-0,6 |
Typical Motor Power Factors:
| Power | Speed | Power Factor | ||
| (hp) | (rpm) | 1/2 load | 3/4 load | full load |
| 0 – 5 | 1800 | 0.72 | 0.82 | 0.84 |
| 5 – 20 | 1800 | 0.74 | 0.84 | 0.86 |
| 20 – 100 | 1800 | 0.79 | 0.86 | 0.89 |
| 100 – 300 | 1800 | 0.81 | 0.88 | 0.91 |
Reference // Power Factor in Electrical Energy Management-A. Bhatia, B.E.-2012
Power Factor Requirements for Electronic Loads in California- Brian Fortenbery,2014
http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com
Electrical motors constructed according NEMA Design B must meet the efficiencies below:
| Power | Minimum Nominal Efficiency1) |
| (hp) | |
| 1 – 4 | 78.8 |
| 5 – 9 | 84.0 |
| 10 – 19 | 85.5 |
| 20 – 49 | 88.5 |
| 50 – 99 | 90.2 |
| 100 – 124 | 91.7 |
| > 125 | 92.4 |
Reference // http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com
VA to HP conversion table:
| VA | Efficiencies | P.f | Hp |
| 10VA | 78% | 0,84P.f | 0,0087Hp |
| 20VA | 78% | 0,84P.f | 0,017Hp |
| 30VA | 78% | 0,84P.f | 0,026Hp |
| 40VA | 78% | 0,84P.f | 0,035Hp |
| 50VA | 84% | 0,84P.f | 0,04Hp |
| 60VA | 84% | 0,86P.f | 0,058Hp |
| 70VA | 84% | 0,86P.f | 0,067Hp |
| 80VA | 84% | 0,86P.f | 0,077Hp |
| 90VA | 84% | 0,86P.f | 0,087Hp |
| 100VA | 85% | 0,86P.f | 0,097Hp |
| 200VA | 85% | 0,86P.f | 0,195Hp |
| 300VA | 88% | 0,89P.f | 0,314Hp |
| 400VA | 88% | 0,89P.f | 0,419Hp |
| 500VA | 88% | 0,89P.f | 0,524Hp |
| 600VA | 90% | 0,89P.f | 0,644Hp |
| 700VA | 90% | 0,89P.f | 0,751Hp |
| 800VA | 90% | 0,89P.f | 0,858Hp |
| 900VA | 90% | 0,89P.f | 0,966Hp |
| 1000VA | 90% | 0,89P.f | 1,073Hp |
| 2000VA | 91% | 0,91P.f | 2,22Hp |
| 3000VA | 92% | 0,91P.f | 3,366Hp |
| 4000VA | 92% | 0,91P.f | 4,489Hp |
| 5000VA | 92% | 0,91P.f | 5,611Hp |
| 6000VA | 92% | 0,91P.f | 6,733Hp |
| 7000VA | 92% | 0,91P.f | 7,855Hp |
| 8000VA | 92% | 0,91P.f | 8,978Hp |
| 9000VA | 92% | 0,91P.f | 10,1Hp |
| 10000VA | 92% | 0,91P.f | 11,22Hp |
| 20000VA | 92% | 0,91P.f | 22,44Hp |
| 30000VA | 92% | 0,91P.f | 33,66Hp |
| 40000VA | 92% | 0,91P.f | 44,89Hp |
| 50000VA | 92% | 0,91P.f | 56,11Hp |
| 60000VA | 92% | 0,91P.f | 67,335Hp |
| 70000VA | 92% | 0,91P.f | 78,557Hp |
| 80000VA | 92% | 0,91P.f | 89,78Hp |
| 90000VA | 92% | 0,91P.f | 101Hp |