kW to frigories converter
One kilowatt is 860 frigories per hour.
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The BTU is the third unit on that same commercial label.
Where each number comes from Conversion constants are exact; densities and coverage rates come from cited sources; everything else is an assumption you can change. Methodology · Sources and updates
How to use it
- Type the amount you want to convert.
- The result appears immediately, with every equivalent.
- Check the nearest commercial size too.
- If the unit is advertised in another unit, use the reverse conversion.
How it is calculated
This is an exact conversion between units of power. They all measure the same thing (energy per unit of time), only the scale changes:
The three units that meet in air conditioning are the watt (SI), the BTU/h (English-speaking markets) and the frigorie per hour (Spain and Latin America). The ton of refrigeration, used for larger equipment, is 12,000 BTU/h by definition.
Keep in mind that all of these describe cooling capacity, that is, heat removed. Electricity consumption is a different quantity.
Worked example
A 3.5 kW unit:
- 3,500 / 1.163 = 3,009 frigories/h
- In BTU/h: 11,942
The practical rule is that 1 kW is about 860 frigories. A 2.6 kW unit is around 2,240 frigories and is sold as a 2,250.
Good to know
- Capacity is not consumption. The BTU/h, frigories or kW on a label measure the heat the unit removes from the room, not the electricity it uses. For that you need the efficiency rating or the rated input power.
- Commercial sizes come in steps. Domestic units are built at 9,000, 12,000, 18,000 and 24,000 BTU/h, so the exact figure rarely matches a real model.
- Watch the round marketing numbers. A unit advertised as "3,000 frigories" is actually 11,905 BTU/h, and is usually sold as a 12,000.
Frequently asked questions
How many frigories is 1 kW?
859.85 frigories/h, rounded to 860 in practice. It comes from dividing 1,000 W by 1.163 W per frigorie.
How many frigories is 3.5 kW?
3,009 frigories/h, which is a 3,000-frigorie commercial unit.
And 2.6 kW?
2,236 frigories/h, the typical 2,250-frigorie or 9,000 BTU unit.
Why 1.163?
Because a kilocalorie is 4,186.8 joules and an hour is 3,600 seconds: 4,186.8 / 3,600 = exactly 1.163 W.