2,930.71
W
2.9307
kW
3.9301
hp
0.8333
TR
2,930.71
W
2.9307
kW
3.9301
hp
0.8333
TR
The BTU per Hour to Watts Converter converts power from BTU/hr to watts (W), kilowatts (kW), and horsepower (HP) using the conversion factor 1 BTU/hr = 0.293071 W. BTU/hr is the standard power unit in North American HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems, and converting to SI units is essential for international engineering.
The BTU per hour measures the rate of heat transfer — how many British Thermal Units of energy are transferred each hour. Air conditioners, furnaces, boilers, and heat pumps are all rated in BTU/hr in the US and Canada. A typical residential air conditioner might be rated at 24,000 BTU/hr (2 tons), while a home furnace might produce 80,000 BTU/hr of output.
The conversion factor comes from dividing the BTU-to-joules factor (1 BTU = 1055.06 J) by 3600 seconds per hour: 1055.06 ÷ 3600 = 0.293071 W. This means that 1 BTU/hr is a relatively small amount of power — about a third of a watt. Practical HVAC equipment operates in the thousands to hundreds of thousands of BTU/hr range.
Converting BTU/hr to watts and kilowatts is crucial for several reasons: international equipment comparison, electrical circuit sizing for HVAC equipment, energy efficiency calculations (converting BTU/hr output to kW input), and compliance with international building codes that use SI units.
Our converter also provides horsepower output, useful for HVAC compressor motor sizing. A 1-ton (12,000 BTU/hr) air conditioner compressor typically requires about 1 to 1.5 HP of motor power, depending on efficiency. The converter helps verify these relationships and aids in equipment selection.
The formulas: watts = BTU/hr × 0.293071, kW = BTU/hr × 0.000293071, HP = BTU/hr × 0.000393015. These factors are derived from 1 BTU_IT = 1055.05585 J and 1 hour = 3600 seconds.
HVAC reference: 1 ton of cooling = 12,000 BTU/hr = 3517 W = 3.517 kW. A 100,000 BTU/hr furnace outputs 29.3 kW of heat. Window AC units range from 5,000–25,000 BTU/hr (1.5–7.3 kW).
Inputs
Results
3-ton AC = 36,000 BTU/hr ≈ 10.6 kW
Inputs
Results
5,000 BTU/hr ≈ 1.5 kW heater
1 BTU/hr = 0.293071 watts. This is derived from 1 BTU = 1055.06 J divided by 3600 seconds.
Divide BTU/hr by 3412.14. For example, 12,000 BTU/hr ÷ 3412.14 = 3.517 kW.
1 ton = 12,000 BTU/hr = 3,516.85 W ≈ 3.517 kW. This is based on the cooling capacity of melting 1 short ton of ice in 24 hours.
Residential furnaces typically range from 40,000 to 120,000 BTU/hr (11.7–35.2 kW). The required size depends on climate, home size, and insulation.
Convert BTU/hr to watts, then calculate amps: I = W/V. For a 5,000 BTU/hr heater: 1465 W ÷ 120 V = 12.2 amps. Use a 15A or 20A circuit.
SEER = BTU cooling output ÷ Watt-hours of electricity input, over a cooling season. A SEER 16 AC produces 16 BTU of cooling per Wh of electricity.
EER (Energy Efficiency Ratio) = BTU/hr cooling ÷ watts input. A window AC with EER 10 uses 1200 W to produce 12,000 BTU/hr of cooling.
Window ACs range from 5,000 BTU/hr (small room) to 25,000 BTU/hr (large room), or about 1.5 to 7.3 kW of cooling capacity.
Rule of thumb: 20–40 BTU/hr per square foot depending on climate and insulation. A 2000 sq ft home in a cold climate might need 80,000 BTU/hr.
Yes, divide BTU/hr by 12,000. For example, 60,000 BTU/hr = 5 tons of refrigeration.
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