Ultimate Guide: How to Convert kVA to kW?

We have all heard the term kW, which represents the rating of a home's electrical items. kVA, on the other hand, is the unit that determines the power of a generator. If you have the kVA value of the equipment, you can use the kVA to kW conversion formula to calculate the kilowatts.

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kVA to kW Facts

kVA and kW are frequently used terms for power consumption. While the kVA represents the kilovolt-ampere, the kW is the abbreviation of kilowatt. Here are a few essential facts about kVA and kW.

• A kVA is 1000 volt-ampere, where a volt is an electrical pressure, and an ampereis an electric current. The apparent power is equivalent to the multiplication of volts and amperes.
• While both kVA and kW represent the power, they are actually different.
• In an AC circuit, current and voltage may sometimes get out of phase. Thus, the values of kVA and kW differ depending on the power factor.

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What Is kVA to kW?

Kilovolt-amp or kVA is the measurement of the apparent power required by any electrical system. In DC circuits, the value of kVA and kW is the same as the power factor, which is unity. If the generator has a higher kVA value, this means it can produce more power. Kilowatt or kW is the amount of actual power required by any electrical system. It represents how much power is being converted into working or useful output.

Kilovolt-ampere and kilowatt are the two units of power. The kVA is the measure of apparent power that includes both real power (kW) and reactive power (kVAR). On the other hand, the kW is the measure of real power that actually does work. The conversion from kVA to kW is actually done by multiplying the kVA by the power factor. Jackery Explorer Portable Power Stations have large batteries that can hold and supply more electricity.

How to Convert kVA to kW?

Kilovolt-ampere (kVA) and kilowatt (kW) both measure power but often differ because of the equipment's power factor. The power factor is generally the ratio between apparent power and real power, which represents the amount of power that's used to do real work. In order to convert kVA to kW, you can use the below formula.

Where,

P = Real power in kilowatts

S = Apparent power in kilovolt-amp

PF = Power factor

For example, the real power of an appliance with 100kVA of apparent power and a PF of 0.8 will be:

P (kW) = 100kVA × 0.8 = 80kW

The following chart reveals some common kVA to kW conversions for an appliance with 0.8 PF.

kW is a common electrical unit. However, many appliances have only kVA indicated on them. In this case, the kVA to kW conversion comes in handy. You can convert the less-known electrical term to kW with a simple formula.

How to Convert kW to kVA?

Similar to converting kVA to kW, you can also convert kW to kVA, accounting for the power factor. Generally, the apparent power in kVA is equivalent to the real power in kW divided by the power factor PF.

For example, the apparent power or kVA of a 20kW electric motor with a PF of 0.8 can be calculated as follows:

S (kVA) = 20kW ÷ 0.8 = 25kVA

The chart reveals some common kVA to kW conversions for an appliance with a PF of 0.8.

Many appliances often indicate the kW values but not the kVA, and understanding how much useful power it consumes can be tricky. That's where kW to kVA conversion comes into the picture.

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kVA Vs. kW: What Is The Difference?

The primary difference between kVA and kW is the power factor. Kilowatt is the unit of real power, whereas kVA is the apparent power measurement. Here's a quick overview of the differences between the two.

kVA to kW FAQs

How many kW is 1 kVA?

One kilovolt-ampere is equal to one kilowatt in a direct current. However, the result may vary if the power factor is not equal to unity. For example, if the PF is the typical 0.8, the kW in 1kVA of the generator is 1 × 0.8 = 0.8kW.

How to convert kVA to kW?

The formula to convert kVA to kW is as follows:

kW = kVA × PF

Where,

kW = Kilowatt

kVA = Kilovolt-ampere

PF = Power Factor

You can substitute the values in the formula to get kVA.

How many kVA is a kW generator?

One kilowatt generator with a power factor of 0.8 has 1.25 kVA or apparent power. However, the values of kW and kVA are equal in the DC circuit where there is no loss of efficiency, and the power factor is unity.

Is kW and kVA same?

No, kW and kVA are not the same. kVA is the unit of apparent power (real power plus reactive power), and kW is the real power. However, their values can be equal if the power factor equals unity.

Final Thoughts

Kilowatt and kilovolt-ampere are frequently used electrical terms for power consumption. These are useful for electrical appliances that help you measure the electric current. With simple kVA to kW formulas, you can convert kilovolt-ampere to kilowatt or vice versa.

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