Kilowatt to Hectowatt Converter

A kilowatt (kW) is a unit of power equal to one thousand watts (10³ W). It's one of the most commonly used power units, representing the power consumption of household appliances and small to medium electrical equipment.

The kilowatt became widely recognized with the expansion of electrical power to homes and businesses in the early 20th century. It provided a practical scale for household electricity consumption and became the standard unit for electrical billing and appliance ratings.

Kilowatts are universally used for household appliance ratings, small motor specifications, residential solar installations, and electricity billing. They're standard for home electrical consumption, appliance energy labels, and small-scale power systems.

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.