Apparent power

Apparent Power Converter

Details

How to use Apparent Power Converter

What the tool does, how to run it, and what to expect from the result.

How to convert apparent power units

Enter an apparent power figure, pick the unit it is in, and pick the unit you want. VA, kVA and MVA update together, which is the whole range from a small UPS to a substation transformer.

The volt-ampere is the internal base and the steps are exact powers of 1,000. Converting into watts is a different operation entirely, because it requires the load's power factor, which is not a unit conversion.

  • Type the apparent power in the Value box, for example 10.
  • Pick the From unit, for example Kilovolt-ampere (kVA).
  • Pick the To unit, for example Volt-ampere (VA).
  • Read the result and the full table.
  • To get real power, multiply the VA figure by the load's power factor yourself.
Tips

Getting a better result out of Apparent Power Converter

Specific settings and thresholds, not general advice.

  • kVA is not kW. Real power equals apparent power times power factor, so a 10 kVA UPS at 0.8 power factor delivers only 8 kW.
  • Apparent power (S), real power (P) and reactive power (Q) form a right triangle: S squared equals P squared plus Q squared. 8 kW with 6 kVAR gives exactly 10 kVA.
  • Generators and transformers are rated in kVA because the windings heat from current no matter what the phase angle is, so kVA is what the copper actually feels.
  • The ladder is powers of 1,000: 1 MVA is 1,000 kVA is 1,000,000 VA. Distribution transformers step through 25, 100 and 500 kVA up to 1 MVA and beyond.
  • Modern computers and their supplies run close to unity power factor (0.95 to 1.0), so a 1,500 VA UPS gives 1,425 to 1,500 W. Older gear at 0.6 power factor would give only 900 W from the same box.
Limits

What Apparent Power Converter does not do

The honest boundary, so you do not lose time finding it yourself.

  • There is no power factor field, so it will not convert kVA to kW.
  • No three-phase math, so it will not apply the square root of 3 for line-to-line calculations.
  • It converts apparent power only. Watts and VAR are on other pages.
  • One value at a time, and no transformer or UPS sizing model.
At a glance

Who Apparent Power Converter is for

A quick way to understand who this helps, what it solves, and where it connects next.

Best fit

Students, engineers, developers, makers, and anyone who needs a quick, accurate apparent power conversion.

Ideal for

Fast, reliable apparent power conversions without installing an app or trusting a server with your numbers.

FAQ

Common questions

Short answers for the questions people usually have before trying a utility like this.

Does my data get uploaded anywhere?

No. Everything runs locally in your browser and nothing is sent to a server.

Is this free to use?

Yes. It is completely free, with no account, no signup, and no usage limits.

Does it work on a phone?

Yes. The page runs in any modern mobile browser, on iPhone and Android alike, with no app to install.

How do I convert kVA to kW?

Multiply by the power factor. kW equals kVA times PF, so 10 kVA at 0.8 PF is 8 kW. Without knowing the power factor of the load there is no conversion, which is why this page scales VA units only and leaves the PF step to you.

Why are UPS units rated in VA rather than watts?

Because the limiting factor is current, and the internal components heat with current regardless of the phase relationship. A UPS rated 1,500 VA can supply 1,500 VA of apparent power, and how many watts of real work that becomes depends on the power factor of what you plug in.

What size UPS do I need for a 600 W load?

Divide the watts by the power factor. At a typical modern power factor of 0.9, a 600 W load needs about 667 VA, so a 750 VA or 1,000 VA unit gives you margin. Buying by watts alone will undersize the unit.

How do I calculate apparent power in a three-phase system?

For a balanced three-phase load, S equals the square root of 3 times the line-to-line voltage times the line current. This page does not carry that factor, so compute S first and then use it to scale between VA, kVA and MVA.

What is the difference between VA and W?

VA is voltage times current with no regard to phase. W is the part of that which actually does work. They are equal only when voltage and current are in phase, which is to say at a power factor of 1. Any reactive load makes VA larger than W.

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