Hectowatt to Volt-Ampere Converter

A hectowatt (hW) is a unit of power equal to one hundred watts (10² W). It represents moderate power levels found in small appliances, lighting systems, and medium-scale electrical equipment.

The hectowatt developed as part of the metric system's decimal structure, providing an intermediate unit between kilowatts and watts. It became useful for describing power consumption of small appliances and lighting systems where watts would be large numbers.

Hectowatts are used for small appliance ratings, lighting system specifications, and medium-scale electrical equipment. They're found in specifications for small motors, lighting installations, and electrical systems requiring moderate power levels.

Volt-ampere (VA) is a unit of apparent power in AC electrical systems, representing the product of voltage and current. It differs from watts (real power) in AC systems where voltage and current may not be in phase.

Volt-ampere became important with the development of AC electrical systems, where the distinction between apparent power and real power became crucial. It provided a way to specify the total power capacity of AC electrical equipment regardless of power factor.

Volt-amperes are used for AC electrical equipment ratings, transformer specifications, and electrical system design. They're standard for UPS ratings, transformer capacity, and AC electrical equipment where apparent power is more relevant than real power.