Horsepower to Kilovolt-Ampere Converter

Horsepower (hp) is a unit of power originally defined as the power needed to lift 550 pounds one foot in one second, approximately equal to 746 watts. It was created to compare the output of steam engines with the power of draft horses.

Horsepower was defined by James Watt around 1782 to market his steam engines by comparing their output to the familiar power of horses. It became the standard unit for mechanical power in English-speaking countries and remains widely used despite the adoption of SI units.

Horsepower is extensively used in automotive engines, mechanical equipment, and motor specifications. It's standard for car engine ratings, industrial machinery, pumps, and mechanical power transmission systems, particularly in the United States.

Kilovolt-ampere (kVA) is a unit of apparent power equal to one thousand volt-amperes. It's widely used for rating large AC electrical equipment, transformers, and electrical systems where apparent power is the primary concern.

Kilovolt-ampere became standard with the growth of large AC electrical systems and power distribution. It provided an appropriate scale for rating transformers, generators, and large electrical equipment where apparent power capacity was the critical specification.

Kilovolt-amperes are extensively used for transformer ratings, generator specifications, large UPS systems, and electrical distribution equipment. They're standard for power system design, electrical equipment ratings, and AC power capacity specifications.