Kilowatts (kW) to Volt-Amps (VA) Conversion Calculator
Convert kilowatts (kW) to volt-amps (VA) by entering the power and power factor below.
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How to Convert Kilowatts to Volt-amps
Volt-amps and kilowatts are both measures of electrical power, but they’re slightly different.
Electrical power is a measure of the instantaneous rate at which electrical energy is generated at the power station and the total energy delivered to an electrical device connected to the power station.
The generated apparent power is measured in volt-amperes; one VA is equal to the power that would flow when one volt is applied to cause a current flow of one ampere through a device.
The delivered real power is measured in watts (W); one watt equals one joule of energy supplied to a device in one second. In an electrical power system, power is calculated in a higher unit, kilowatts (kW), due to the large electrical loads connected to the power system at any given time. One kW of power is equal to 1,000 watts of power.
The difference between generated apparent power and delivered real power arises due to nonlinear elements of the grid, i.e., the capacitive and inductive elements of the transmission network and connected load. These components have electrostatic and magnetic fields to store energy and require some power loss in terms of reactive power.
The difference between the two is conceptualized by the value of the system power factor, which should ideally be equal to 1. Thus, the total generated apparent power is not always used for real work due to the power factor; converting between them requires a formula.
kW to VA Conversion Formula
The formula to convert kilowatts to volt-amps is:
S(VA) = 1,000 × P(kW) / PF
Thus, the apparent power S in volt-amps is equal to 1,000 times the real power P in kilowatts, divided by the power factor PF.
You might also be interested in our VA to kW calculator.
For example, let’s convert the real power of 5 kW with a power factor of 0.8 to the apparent power in volt amps.
S(VA) = 1,000 × 5 kW / 0.8
S(VA) = 5,000 W / 0.8
S(VA) = 6,250 VA
Kilowatts to Volt-amps Conversion Chart
| Real Power (kW) | Apparent Power (VA) |
|---|---|
| 5 kW | 6,250 VA |
| 7.5 kW | 9,375 VA |
| 10 kW | 12,500 VA |
| 15 kW | 18,750 VA |
| 20 kW | 25,000 VA |
| 25 kW | 31,250 VA |
| 30 kW | 37,500 VA |
| 40 kW | 50,000 VA |
| 50 kW | 62,500 VA |
| 60 kW | 75,000 VA |
| 75 kW | 93,750 VA |
| 100 kW | 125,000 VA |