Do you know what KVA is all about? Were you seeking out information about KVA and all that it entails? Then you are on the right page, this comprehensive review will be furnishing you with all the information you needed to know about KVA and all its calculations. This has been written in the simply form to be impactful on all readers.
Table of Contents
What is KVA/KVA Power?

This is otherwise known as kilovolt-ampere which is the power factor. It could be seen as the unit of apparent power or real power plus re-active power. It is also the generator end capacity. Its calculation can be done when the output resistance and voltage is known. The calculation is equal to: p(kva)= (V*2/R) and the R there represent resistance in ohms.
How to Calculate KVA
As already stated to calculate KVA needs one having the output resistance and voltage. So using the formula let’s do a little calculation of it. Like if R is 50 ohms and the voltage is 120 volts the KVA will be 0.288kva. P(KVA) =V^2/R/1000 = (14400/50)/1000 = 288/1000 =0.288KVA
What is kva in Electricity?
KVA in electricity is a basic electrical term used to describe the amount of electrical power that a meter can feed to a site or building. The abbreviation stands for kilo volt-amperes though and it equals to 1000 watts of power
What is kva in Generator?
The kva in generator is the measure of apparent power, so it tell you how much is being used in the system overall. Power ratings of generators though it is mostly expressed in kw is also expressed in Kva. The k is kilo that is equal to 1000 units of VA power. So a lot of countries are using KVA instead of kw as the primary value when referencing generator sets.
Process of Converting kw to kva?
The formula to covert this is actual power x power factor (pf) = apparent power (kva). This is to say the amount of real or actual power or watts will be equal to the amount of VA volt amperes or apparent power. The formula to convert = S(KVA)= P(KW)/PF I.e kilowatts/powerfactor = kilovolt-amps
What is the Difference Between kw and kVA?
Firstly, kW means Kilowatt while Kva means kilovolt-ampere. So while kW is the real power kVA is a unit of apparent power. The main difference between these two is just their power factor.
Process of Converting kva to watts
The real power p in watts (w) is = 1000 times the apparent power S in kva (kilovolt-amps multiply by the power factor). Formula for watts = 1000 x S( kva) x PF = P(W) or 1000x kilovolt-amps x PF or 1000xkva x pf.
Process of Converting kva to hp
Hp here means horsepower. So the formula for converting kva to hp is (kva x efficiency x power factor) /0.8 =HP. The first step is to convert to KW, because to convert kva to horsepower, you need to find the result in kilowatts. Then you can convert divide the kilowatts by 0.8 to get the last or final answer in horsepower. Conclusively, the simple formula for horsepower is kva x pf x1000/ 0.8.
The Difference Between Hp to kva?
Electrical horsepower is a measure of power equivalent to 746 watts while kva (kilovolt-amps) measure apparent power. This is because the power factor and motor efficiency limit the amount of actual work done for the amount of apparent power in the circuit.
So therefore the conversion from horsepower (hp) to kva needs a formula. So the formula is HP x 0.8/efficiency x power factor). The bottom line difference is that horsepower is a measure of power equivalent to 746 watts while kilovolt-amps measure apparent power.
Steps on how to covert kva to amps
Amps is the flow of electricity as an electric current while unit kilovolt amperes (kva) is the power associated with electric current. So it measures the number of electrons that flow past a particular point per second. Like one ampere can be seen as the current that flows with electric charge of one coulomb per second. So the formula to convert kva to amps is 1000 x S(KVA)/V(V) i.e. 1000 times the apparent powers in kilovolt-amps divided by the voltage V in volts.
What is the difference between amps to kva?
The term amps are a measure of electrical current in an electrical circuit while the kva otherwise known as kilovolt amps are a measure of apparent power In a circuit. So apparently 1 kva is = 1000 volt amps. So the power in kva is equal to the current in amps multiply by the voltage and divided by 1000, so converting electric current in amps to apparent power in kilo-amps.
Note that it is only kilovolt-amps that can be calculated from volts and amps but amps can’t be converted to kilovolt amps since amps units and kilovolt-amps don’t measure the same quantity. So the converting formula = I(A) X V(v)/1000 = S(kva). So kilovolt amps = amps multiply by volts divided by 1000.
What is kilowatt to kva?
Both kilovolt amps (kva) and kilowatts are measure of power but the difference there is that one measures the real power in an electrical circuit (kw) while the other measure the apparent power (kva).so the formula to convert kilowatt to kva = kw divided by power factor. The apparent power in kva = to the real power in kW /by the power factor. Bottom line with this calculation is that by using kW you will know the actual power that is being converted into useful working output while the kva will tell you how much power you can actually work with.
Conclusion
Here you have it, all the details you needed to know or have about Kva and all its entails. Kva is important in power especially for out-of-phase current and voltage. So it is worth having around for a long while. So in essence knowing about KVA is very important.