1. What is 3-Phase Motor Power Conversion?

This calculator converts the electrical power of a 3-phase motor from kilowatts to horsepower (HP) using voltage, current, and power factor measurements. Horsepower is a common unit for rating motor mechanical output power.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the 3-phase power conversion formula:

Where:

• \( V \) — Line-to-line voltage (volts)
• \( I \) — Current (amperes)
• \( PF \) — Power factor (unitless, 0 to 1)
• \( \sqrt{3} \) — Constant for 3-phase systems
• 1000 — Conversion to kilowatts
• 0.7457 — Conversion factor from kW to HP

Explanation: The formula calculates apparent power in kW and converts it to mechanical horsepower.

3. Importance of Power Conversion

Details: Understanding motor power in both electrical (kW) and mechanical (HP) terms is essential for proper motor selection, performance evaluation, and energy efficiency calculations.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips:

• Measure line-to-line voltage (V) with a multimeter
• Measure current (A) with a clamp meter
• Typical power factor for motors ranges from 0.8 to 0.95
• For most accurate results, use measured values under normal operating conditions

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between kW and HP?
A: kW (kilowatts) measures electrical power, while HP (horsepower) measures mechanical power. 1 HP = 0.7457 kW.

Q2: Why is power factor important?
A: Power factor accounts for phase difference between voltage and current. Lower PF means more current is required for the same real power.

Q3: Can I use this for single-phase motors?
A: No, single-phase motors use a different formula (HP = V × I × PF / (1000 × 0.7457)).

Q4: What's a typical power factor for motors?
A: Induction motors typically have PF of 0.85 at full load, lower at partial loads. Synchronous motors can achieve PF of 1.0.

Q5: How accurate is this calculation?
A: It provides a good estimate but actual mechanical HP may vary due to motor efficiency (not accounted for in this formula).