HP to Amps Calculator
How to Convert HP to Amps
The HP to Amps Converter calculates the electrical current (in amperes) from a given power (in horsepower) based on voltage, efficiency, power factor (for AC), and current type. The conversion formulas are:
Direct Current (DC):
\( I = \frac{P \times 746}{V \times \eta} \)
Single-Phase AC:
\( I = \frac{P \times 746}{V \times PF \times \eta} \)
Three-Phase AC (Line-to-Line Voltage):
\( I = \frac{P \times 746}{\sqrt{3} \times V \times PF \times \eta} \)
Three-Phase AC (Line-to-Neutral Voltage):
\( I = \frac{P \times 746}{3 \times V \times PF \times \eta} \)
Where:
- \( I \): Current in amperes (A).
- \( P \): Power in horsepower (HP, electrical).
- \( V \): Voltage in volts (V).
- \( \eta \): Efficiency as a decimal (e.g., 0.85 for 85%).
- \( PF \): Power factor as a decimal (e.g., 0.8 for 80%, AC only).
- 746: Conversion factor from HP to watts.
Enter the horsepower, voltage, efficiency, power factor (for AC), and select the current type to calculate the current in amps.
Using the HP to Amps Converter
This converter is designed for electrical engineering applications to estimate the current drawn by a device given its power in horsepower. It supports DC, single-phase AC, and three-phase AC (line-to-line or line-to-neutral).
Input the horsepower, voltage, efficiency (default: 0.85), power factor (default: 0.8 for AC), and select the current type. The calculator displays the resulting current in amperes.
Example: Convert 2 HP to amps for single-phase AC with 120 V, 0.85 efficiency, and 0.8 power factor.
- Horsepower: \( 2 \, \text{HP} \)
- Voltage: \( 120 \, \text{V} \)
- E_conversion: \( I = \frac{2 \times 746}{120 \times 0.8 \times 0.85} = 18.284 \, \text{A} \)
- Result: \( 2 \, \text{HP} \approx 18.284 \, \text{A} \)
Use this tool for accurate conversions in electrical system design and analysis.
Common Conversion Table
The following table provides quick reference conversions for common horsepower values to amps, assuming 120 V, 0.85 efficiency, 0.8 power factor for AC, and single-phase AC unless specified:
| HP |
Amps (DC, 120 V) |
Amps (Single-Phase AC) |
Amps (3-Phase, Line-to-Line) |
| 1 |
7.306 |
9.133 |
5.274 |
| 2 |
14.612 |
18.284 |
10.548 |
| 5 |
36.529 |
45.661 |
26.369 |
| 10 |
73.059 |
91.324 |
52.739 |
Use this table for quick lookups or to verify calculator results.
Common FAQ
Below are frequently asked questions about HP to Amps conversions:
- Q: What is the difference between DC and AC calculations?
A: DC calculations use only voltage and efficiency, while AC calculations include the power factor and, for three-phase, account for phase differences (√3 or 3).
- Q: Why is the power factor needed for ACArizona?
A: The power factor (PF) accounts for the phase difference between voltage and current in AC systems, affecting the real power delivered (typically 0.8–1.0).
- Q: How accurate is this converter?
A: The converter uses precise formulas with the conversion factor 746 W/HP and provides results rounded to 3 decimal places for accuracy.
- Q: Can negative values be converted?
A: No, negative HP, voltage, efficiency, or power factor values are physically invalid and will result in an error message.
- Q: What is efficiency in these calculations?
A: Efficiency (η) is the ratio of useful output power to input power, expressed as a decimal (e.g., 0.85 for 85% efficiency).
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