How amps to kW works
This tool converts electrical current (amps) into active power (kilowatts) using the standard formulas for DC, single-phase AC, and three-phase AC systems. You enter voltage, current, and power factor, and the calculator updates kW instantly as you type.
DC amps to kilowatts calculation
For direct current (DC) circuits, there is no power factor term. The relationship between current and power is:
kW = (V × I) ÷ 1000 Where: V = voltage in volts (V) I = current in amps (A)
Example: A 48 V DC supply feeding 50 A delivers kW = (48 × 50) ÷ 1000 = 2.4 kW.
AC single phase amps to kilowatts calculation
For single-phase AC systems, the active power also depends on power factor (PF), which represents how effectively current is converted into useful work:
kW = (V × I × PF) ÷ 1000 Where: V = RMS voltage in volts I = RMS current in amps PF = power factor (0–1)
Example: 230 V single-phase circuit, 16 A, PF = 0.8 → kW = (230 × 16 × 0.8) ÷ 1000 ≈ 2.94 kW.
AC three phase amps to kilowatts calculation
Three-phase systems can be expressed using either line-to-line voltage (VLL) or line-to-neutral voltage (VLN). The calculator lets you choose which one you use.
Calculation with line to line voltage
kW = √3 × V_LL × I × PF ÷ 1000
Example: 400 V three-phase, 25 A per line, PF = 0.85 → kW ≈ 1.732 × 400 × 25 × 0.85 ÷ 1000 ≈ 14.7 kW.
Calculation with line to neutral voltage
kW = 3 × V_LN × I × PF ÷ 1000
Example: 230 V line-to-neutral, 25 A per phase, PF = 0.85 → kW = 3 × 230 × 25 × 0.85 ÷ 1000 ≈ 14.7 kW.
Typical power factor values
Real-world power factor depends on the load. The table below shows typical ranges:
| Load type | Typical PF (lagging) |
|---|---|
| Resistive heaters / incandescent lamps | ≈ 1.0 |
| Small induction motors (lightly loaded) | 0.60–0.75 |
| Standard industrial motors (normal load) | 0.80–0.90 |
| High-efficiency motors with correction | 0.95–0.99 |
| Fluorescent/LED lighting with modern drivers | 0.90–0.98 |
When in doubt, using PF = 0.8 is a reasonable starting point for many motor loads. You can always update the value if you know the exact power factor from the nameplate or specs.