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The Watts to BTU per hour conversion is used to translate power measurements between the metric system (watts) and the imperial system (BTU/hr). This is particularly important in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) applications.
The calculator uses the conversion formula:
Where:
Explanation: One watt is equal to 3.412142 BTU per hour. This conversion factor is derived from the exact definition of the BTU in terms of joules.
Details: Accurate power conversion is essential for comparing heating/cooling systems, sizing equipment, and ensuring compatibility between systems using different measurement units.
Tips: Enter power in watts (must be positive value). The calculator will automatically compute the equivalent in BTU per hour.
Q1: Why is the conversion factor 3.412142?
A: This exact value comes from the definition that 1 BTU = 1055.05585262 joules and 1 watt = 1 joule/second, with appropriate unit conversions for hours.
Q2: What are typical watt values for household appliances?
A: A small space heater might be 1000W (3412 BTU/hr), while a central AC unit could be 3500W (11,942 BTU/hr or about 1 ton of cooling).
Q3: Is this conversion affected by temperature?
A: No, the conversion between watts and BTU/hr is constant regardless of temperature, though the efficiency of systems converting between forms of energy may vary.
Q4: Can I convert BTU/hr back to watts?
A: Yes, divide BTU/hr by 3.412142 to get watts. Our calculator only does one-way conversion but you could modify it for bidirectional conversion.
Q5: Why is this important for HVAC systems?
A: Many HVAC systems are rated in BTU/hr for cooling/heating capacity, while their electrical consumption is measured in watts, making conversions essential for system analysis.