Watt to Hectowatt Converter

A watt (W) is the SI unit of power, defined as one joule per second. Named after Scottish inventor James Watt, it represents the rate of energy transfer and is fundamental to all power measurements in the International System of Units.

The watt was named after James Watt in 1882 and became the SI unit of power in 1960. It replaced various earlier power units and provided a unified measure based on the fundamental relationship between energy and time, becoming universal in scientific and technical applications.

Watts are universally used for all power measurements, from small electronic devices to large machinery. They're fundamental in electrical engineering, physics, energy efficiency ratings, and form the basis for all other power unit measurements.

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.