kVA to Amps Converter
Conversion Result
kVA to Amps Conversion Table
The table below shows the conversion of various kVA values to amps at different voltages for both single-phase and three-phase systems.
Single-Phase Conversion (120V)
| Apparent Power (kVA) | Current (Amps) | Calculation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 kVA | 8.33 A | 1 × 1,000 ÷ 120 = 8.33 |
| 2 kVA | 16.67 A | 2 × 1,000 ÷ 120 = 16.67 |
| 5 kVA | 41.67 A | 5 × 1,000 ÷ 120 = 41.67 |
| 10 kVA | 83.33 A | 10 × 1,000 ÷ 120 = 83.33 |
| 15 kVA | 125.00 A | 15 × 1,000 ÷ 120 = 125.00 |
| 20 kVA | 166.67 A | 20 × 1,000 ÷ 120 = 166.67 |
| 25 kVA | 208.33 A | 25 × 1,000 ÷ 120 = 208.33 |
| 50 kVA | 416.67 A | 50 × 1,000 ÷ 120 = 416.67 |
| 75 kVA | 625.00 A | 75 × 1,000 ÷ 120 = 625.00 |
| 100 kVA | 833.33 A | 100 × 1,000 ÷ 120 = 833.33 |
Three-Phase Conversion (208V Line-to-Line)
| Apparent Power (kVA) | Current (Amps) | Calculation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 kVA | 2.78 A | 1 × 1,000 ÷ (√3 × 208) = 2.78 |
| 5 kVA | 13.88 A | 5 × 1,000 ÷ (√3 × 208) = 13.88 |
| 10 kVA | 27.76 A | 10 × 1,000 ÷ (√3 × 208) = 27.76 |
| 25 kVA | 69.39 A | 25 × 1,000 ÷ (√3 × 208) = 69.39 |
| 50 kVA | 138.78 A | 50 × 1,000 ÷ (√3 × 208) = 138.78 |
| 75 kVA | 208.17 A | 75 × 1,000 ÷ (√3 × 208) = 208.17 |
| 100 kVA | 277.56 A | 100 × 1,000 ÷ (√3 × 208) = 277.56 |
| 200 kVA | 555.12 A | 200 × 1,000 ÷ (√3 × 208) = 555.12 |
| 500 kVA | 1,387.80 A | 500 × 1,000 ÷ (√3 × 208) = 1,387.80 |
| 1,000 kVA | 2,775.60 A | 1,000 × 1,000 ÷ (√3 × 208) = 2,775.60 |
Understanding kVA to Amps Conversion
kVA (kilovolt-amperes) is a unit of apparent power in an electrical circuit. Converting kVA to amps requires knowing the voltage and whether the system is single-phase or three-phase.
What is kVA?
kVA stands for kilovolt-amperes and is a measure of apparent power in electrical systems. One kVA equals 1,000 volt-amperes. kVA is commonly used to rate electrical equipment such as transformers, generators, and UPS systems.
What are Amps?
Amps (or amperes) is the unit of electrical current, representing the flow of electrical charge through a conductor. It measures how many electrons pass through a point in a circuit per second.
Conversion Formulas
Single-Phase Systems
Where:
- I is the current in amps (A)
- S is the apparent power in kilovolt-amps (kVA)
- V is the RMS voltage in volts (V)
- 1,000 is the conversion factor from kVA to VA
Three-Phase Systems (Line-to-Line Voltage)
Where:
- I is the current in amps (A)
- S is the apparent power in kilovolt-amps (kVA)
- VL-L is the line-to-line RMS voltage in volts (V)
- √3 is approximately 1.732
- 1,000 is the conversion factor from kVA to VA
Three-Phase Systems (Line-to-Neutral Voltage)
Where:
- I is the current in amps (A)
- S is the apparent power in kilovolt-amps (kVA)
- VL-N is the line-to-neutral RMS voltage in volts (V)
- 1,000 is the conversion factor from kVA to VA
Practical Examples
Example 1: Single-Phase Conversion
Convert 5 kVA to amps at 240V (single-phase):
Example 2: Three-Phase Conversion (Line-to-Line)
Convert 50 kVA to amps at 480V (three-phase, line-to-line):
Example 3: Three-Phase Conversion (Line-to-Neutral)
Convert 30 kVA to amps at 277V (three-phase, line-to-neutral):
Factors Affecting kVA to Amps Conversion
Power Factor
The power factor (PF) is the ratio of real power (kW) to apparent power (kVA). While not directly used in the kVA to amps conversion, it's important to understand that:
A power factor less than 1 means that the current drawn will be higher than what would be required with a perfect power factor (PF = 1).
Voltage Fluctuations
Since voltage appears in the denominator of the conversion formulas, any fluctuation in voltage will affect the current. Lower voltage results in higher current for the same kVA, and higher voltage results in lower current.
Common Applications
The kVA to amps conversion is commonly used in:
- Sizing electrical panels and circuit breakers
- Selecting appropriate wire gauges for electrical installations
- Determining the current rating needed for transformers
- Calculating the current draw of generators and UPS systems
- Planning electrical distribution systems in buildings
Relationship Between kVA, kW, and Power Factor
Understanding the relationship between apparent power (kVA), real power (kW), and power factor (PF) can help in electrical system design:
This means that for a given real power requirement (kW), the apparent power (kVA) will be higher if the power factor is lower. This results in higher current requirements and potentially larger electrical components.
Converting Between Different Units
Sometimes you may need to convert between different power units:
- 1 kVA = 1,000 VA (volt-amperes)
- 1 MVA = 1,000 kVA = 1,000,000 VA
- kW = kVA × PF (power factor)
- kVAR = kVA × sin(cos⁻¹(PF)) (reactive power)
Practical Considerations
Voltage Drop
When designing electrical systems, it's important to consider voltage drop, especially for long cable runs. Higher current (amps) leads to greater voltage drop, which can affect the performance of electrical equipment.
Temperature Effects
The current-carrying capacity of conductors decreases as temperature increases. When converting kVA to amps for cable sizing, ambient temperature and operating conditions should be considered.
Harmonics
In systems with non-linear loads (like computers, LED lighting, and variable frequency drives), harmonics can cause the actual current to be higher than calculated. This may require derating of cables and other components.
Safety Margins
Electrical codes typically require safety margins when sizing components. For example, continuous loads are often calculated at 125% of the actual load to ensure safety and compliance with electrical codes.