Power Converter
Articles, guides, and in-depth tips for the Power Converter — everything you need to get the most out of it.
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The Duck Curve, Grid Inertia, and Why Power Quality Is a Different Problem From Power Quantity
Watts vs Kilowatt-Hours: Why Your Always-On Fridge Can Cost More Than Your Electric Shower
Power (watts) is a rate — how fast energy flows. Energy (watt-hours) is an amount accumulated over time. An 8.5kW electric shower used 8 minutes daily costs about £99/year; a 60W refrigerator running 24/7 costs about £126/year — the lower-power device costs more annually because it runs continuously. Here's the correct appliance running cost formula, why nameplate wattage overstates actual consumption, and the grid-scale context for MW, GW, and TW.
1000VA Isn't 1000W: Power Factor and Why UPS Sizing Often Goes Wrong
A UPS rated "1000VA" and a power supply rated "1000W" sound like the same quantity — they're not. VA (apparent power) and W (real power) differ by the power factor, and many common devices have power factors well below 1.0, meaning a "1000VA" UPS often can't actually support 1000W of real load. Here's what power factor means, why UPS units are rated in VA in the first place, why "naive" sizing (treating VA and W as interchangeable) can leave far less headroom than expected, and how active PFC closes the gap in modern equipment.
Human Power Output in Sport: FTP, W/kg, How Power Meters Work, and What 400 Watts Means
Professional cyclists sustain 400+ watts — and W/kg (watts per kilogram) determines who wins on climbs. Here's FTP and power training zones, how cycling power meters work, human power output in different sports, and why mechanical efficiency means 250W of cycling burns 850 kcal/hour metabolically.
Renewable Energy Power Output: Capacity Factors, What "Homes Powered" Really Means, and Grid Balancing
A 500 MW wind farm doesn't deliver 500 MW continuously — its 40% capacity factor means average output closer to 200 MW. Here's how capacity factors compare across energy sources, what "homes powered" claims actually mean, how grids balance intermittent renewables, and solar panel output calculations.
Power Explained: Watts vs kWh, Appliance Running Costs, and Why Data Centres Matter
Power is the rate of energy use — the difference between kW and kWh explains your electricity bill. Here's how to calculate running costs for any device, data centre PUE and why AI training is energy-intensive, and EV charger power levels compared.
Power Converter — Watts, kW, Horsepower & BTU/hr Explained
Learn how power units like watts, kilowatts, horsepower, BTU/hr, and tonnes of refrigeration relate to each other — with real examples for generators, AC units, car engines, and solar panels.
