VA to Watts Guide: How to Convert VA to Watts

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VA to Watts Guide: How to Convert VA to Watts
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If you want to convert VA to watts, check out the below formula:

For DC circuits: VA = Watts

This is because the volt-ampere and watts are in phase. If the volt-ampere is 15VA, the watts will also equal 15W.

For AC circuits: VA × PF = Watts

The power factor is introduced because volts and amps are not always in phase. If the volt-ampere is 20VA with a power factor of 0.8, the watts value equals 20VA × 0.8 = 16W.

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AI Takeaways

  • The VA (volt-amperes) is equal to watts in direct current systems because the voltage and current are in phase.
  • In AC circuits or when there's a reactive (non-resistive load), volts and amps are no longer in phase, and watts are equal to the multiplication of volt-amperes and power factor.
  • Watts is the real power that generates heat or performs work, whereas volt-amperes are the apparent power used to simplify power ratings.
  • Watts can be used to evaluate heat generated or dissipated and calculate the energy cost. Volt amperes, on the other hand, help you correctly size wires, fuses, and circuit breakers.
  • What is the power factor.

What are Units of Power?

VA (volt-amperes) measures apparent power, while watts (W) measure real power or the actual energy consumed by devices. Before understanding how to convert VA to watts, it is essential to look at different power units. Let's explain them briefly:

Volt: It is defined as the difference in electrical potential energy between any two points for every charge unit. When you have a 10V battery, the difference between the positive and negative terminals is rated at 10 volts. The potential energy measured in the battery acts as the electromagnetic force or the attractive and repulsive forces between electrically charged particles.

Amp: If the volts refer to the motion or pressure of electron flow in a circuit, amps denote the number of electrons flowing per second. One amp is equal to one coulomb per second.

Watt: Whether you are trying to figure out the power consumption of an appliance or the entire home, you'll need to keep watts in mind. They are the measure of power or energy flow. Understanding amps, volts, and watts will help you calculate whether or not you've enough power in your circuits to charge household appliances.

Watt's Law: Now that you know the different power units, it's essential to understand Watt's Law, which tells the relationship between these units: voltage, watts, and amps. The relationship between these units can be understood using Watt's triangle, which represents all three units.

triangle law with formulas

If you want to calculate the power and have only voltage and current, all you need to do is use the formula from the triangle. To use the triangle, you need to cover the unit you want to calculate. If the two remaining units are next to each other, multiply them. On the other hand, if the remaining units are one above the other, you'll need to divide the top unit by the bottom.

VA: A volt-ampere is typically used in direct current circuits to measure electric power. It determines how much energy an appliance uses and the current drawn from the circuit. You can calculate the volt-ampere value by multiplying volts and amps together.

How to Convert VA to Watts

Converting VA to watts is simple and direct. It is essential because VA and watts represent different aspects of electrical power. While the VA represents the apparent power, watts determine the actual power consumed or used by an appliance.

The VA to watts conversion will help you make decisions about electrical equipment, ensure efficient energy usage, and prevent potential safety hazards. If you have VA values for a DC circuit, they will generally be equal to watts. On the other hand, if it's an AC circuit, the concept involves a new factor called PF (power factor).

Let's explain how to convert VA to watts briefly:

How to Convert VA to Watts for DC current?

In DC circuits, the volts and amps are in phase, and the volt amp is equal to watts.

VA = Watts

For example, if the value of VA is 15, the watts will also be equal to 15.

How to Convert VA to Watts for AC current?

In AC circuits, if the volts and amps are in phase, such as in a resistive load, the value of the volt-amp will be equal to watts.

VA = Watts

Where V is the RMS voltage, and A is the RMS amperage.

Generally, in AC circuits, the volts and amps are not always (or precisely) in phase. If you want to convert apparent power in a volt amp to real power in watts, you'll need to consider the power factor. The PF is the ratio between VA (RMS Voltage × RMS Amperage) and watts.

VA × PF = Watts (for any load)

Computer power supplies and other supplies have a power factor of 90%, whereas power motors under heavy load have a PF of 35%.

Example: If your battery is measured at 50V at 5A per hour, the volt amp value will be 50V × 5A = 250VA. If we assume the power factor to be 85%, the value of watts will be:

Watts = 250VA × 85% = 212.5W.  

how to convert va to watts

Here's a table where we will convert VA to watts:

Volt Ampere [VA]

Watt [W]

0.01VA

0.01W

0.1VA

0.1W

1VA

1W

2VA

2W

3VA

3W

5VA

5W

10VA

10W

20VA

20W

50VA

50W

100VA

100W

1000VA

1000W

How to Convert Watts to VA

Watts and volt-amperes are both units of measurement for electrical power and represent different aspects of power. The difference between the two units is due to some phase differences between voltage and current in AC circuits. For this reason, the conversion from watts to VA depends on the power factor.

The apparent power in volt-ampere (VA) is equal to watts divided by the power factor.

Here's the mathematical representation:

VA = W ÷ PF

Where VA is the apparent power

W is the real power

PF is the power factor between 0 and 1

how to convert watts to va

For example, if the real power is 2000W and the power factor is 0.5, the apparent power in volt-ampere will be equal to:

VA = 2000W ÷ 0.5 = 4000VA

If the power factor is unity, the values of watts and volt-amperes will be equal. Here's a table revealing common watts-to-VA conversions when PF is 1.

Watt [W]

Volt Ampere [VA]

0.01W

0.01VA

0.1W

0.1VA

1W

1VA

2W

2VA

3W

3VA

5W

5VA

10W

10VA

20W

20VA

50W

50VA

100W

100VA

1000W

1000VA

VA Vs. Watts: What's the Difference

Volt-amperes (VA) and watts (W) are units of electrical power measurement. The difference between these two units is that watts represent real power, whereas the volt-amperes represent apparent power. Here's a table that compares these units briefly:

 

VA

Watts

Type of Power

Real Power

Apparent Power

Abbreviation

W

VA

Calculation

For DC: Vdc × Idc

For AC: v(t) × i(t) dt

For DC: Vdc × Idc

For AC: VRMS × IRMS

Used for

It is used to evaluate heat generated or dissipated and calculate the cost of energy.

It is used to properly size wires, fuses, and circuit breakers.

Add multiple ratings together

You can add the W ratings linearly.

There is no straightforward method to add VA. However, if you add VA linearly, the result will be equal to or greater than the actual total.

Instrument needed for measurement

Wattmeter (Note: A typical multimeter cannot measure watts unless both V and I are in DC.)

A typical multimeter can measure VRMS and IRMS, which can then be multiplied to get VA.

What is the Power Factor?

The power factor represents the energy efficiency and is expressed as a percentage. The PF is the ratio of working power (measured in kilowatts) to apparent power (measured in kilovolt ampere). The apparent power or demand measures the amount of power used to run an appliance for a certain period. You can calculate the apparent power by multiplying V and A. Power factor (PF) increases the overall cost of a power distribution system. This is because lower PF requires a higher current to supply the loads.

Here's how power factor, volt-ampere, and watts are related:

PF = kW ÷ kVA or PF = W ÷ VA

Let's take an example to understand:

An appliance runs at 100kW (working power) and 125kVA (apparent power). You can use the power factor formula:

PF = 100kW ÷ 125kVA = 80%

This means only 80% of the incoming current does useful work, and 20% is wasted heating the conductors. The higher the PF, the more efficient the distribution system.

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Appliances Running Time 

  • Microwave (950W) = 3.1H
  • Electric Grill (1000W) = 3.0H
  • Refrigerator (300W) = 9.5H
  • AC (1200W) = 2.5H
  • TV (100W) = 25.0H

Who Should Buy This 

If you want an essential home backup solution that can be expanded to meet the power needs during long-term outages, you can consider going ahead with the Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus.

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Customer Review 

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Appliances Running Time 

  • Microwave (950W) = 2.7H
  • Electric Grill (1000W) = 2.6H
  • Refrigerator (300W) = 8.1H
  • AC (1200W) = 2.1H
  • TV (100W) = 21.4H

Who Should Buy This 

The Jackery HomePower 3000 is the essential home backup solution that can keep critical appliances during outages or blackouts.

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Customer Review 

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Appliances Running Time

  • Microwave (950W) = 1.7H
  • Electric Grill (1000W) = 1.6H
  • Refrigerator (300W) = 5.2H
  • AC (1200W) = 1.4H
  • TV (100W) = 14.2H

Who Should Buy This 

The Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus Portable Power Station is an expandable home battery backup solution that can keep critical devices powered and can also be expanded as your power needs grow.

jackery explorer 2000 plus portable power station va to watts


Customer Review

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— Julia.

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Appliances Running Time

  • Microwave (950W) = 1.1H
  • Electric Grill (1000W) = 1.0H
  • Refrigerator (300W) = 3.3H
  • AC (1200W) = 54 minutes
  • TV (100W) = 8.8H

Who Should Buy This 

The Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus Portable Power Station is a battery backup solution that can keep critical devices powered at home during outages and can also be carried to outdoor locations.

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Customer Review

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Common Questions About VA to Watts Conversion 

How big of a portable power station do I need?

The right size of a portable power station will directly depend on the total appliance's wattage you would like to charge and the number of hours you want to power them. Let's take an example to understand:

Suppose there's a brief power outage in your area, and you want to run a refrigerator (300W) and a portable fan (50W) simultaneously. If you are powering these appliances with the Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus, the working hours can be calculated with the help of the Running Time Calculator available on the product page.

On the product page, scroll down to find the calculator and enter the total appliance wattage to get an estimated runtime. In this case, the Jackery Solar Generator HomePower 3600 Plus will run these appliances (350W) for 8.2 hours.

How much is 600 VA in watts?

600 VA is equal to 600W at the power factor of unity or 1. However, if the PF reduces to 0.8, 600VA will be equal to 480W.

Is VA higher than watts?

Watts and VA ratings can differ significantly. However, VA is always larger or equal to the watt rating.

How many watts is a VA rating?

The VA (volt-ampere) rating is always equal to or larger than the W (Watt) rating. The ratio of the watt-to-volt-ampere rating is called PF and is expressed either as a number (0.8) or a percentage (80%).

How to calculate VA?

The apparent power or VA equals the voltage times the current flow in an electrical circuit.

Apparent Power (VA) = Voltage (V) × Current (A)

Convert VA to Watts With Simple Formula

In DC circuits, the amps and volts are always in phase, and the value of VA is equal to watts. However, in AC circuits, the volts and amps are not always in phase, and you'll need to keep the PF in mind when converting VA to watts. Understanding the power units and conversion formulas will help you size the solar systems and ensure they can power appliances effectively.

If you're looking for a solar generator that can power household or outdoor appliances for long hours, the Jackery Solar Generators seems like a reliable solution. They are portable, powerful, and efficient battery backup solutions that keep appliances powered and reduce high electricity bills. You can use these portable power stations indoors or carry them to outdoor locations to charge outdoor appliances with ease.

Disclaimer:

The runtime mentioned for appliances powered by Jackery is for reference only. Actual runtime may vary under different conditions. Please refer to real-world performance for accurate results.

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