What Is This Tool?
This unit converter tool allows users to translate power values measured in horsepower (water), a mechanical power unit related to water movement, into hectowatts (hW), an SI-derived electrical power unit equal to 100 watts. It is designed to assist engineers, technicians, and hobbyists in comparing hydraulic power with standard electrical power outputs.
How to Use This Tool?
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Enter the value in horsepower (water) that you want to convert.
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Select horsepower (water) as the input power unit if not already chosen.
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Choose hectowatt [hW] as the target power unit.
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Click the convert button to see the equivalent value in hectowatts.
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Use the results to aid in pump sizing, power estimation, or equipment rating.
Key Features
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Converts horsepower (water) — theoretical power linked to water flow and head — into hectowatt, an SI-derived power unit.
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Based on a precise conversion rate: 1 horsepower (water) equals 7.46043 hectowatt.
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Supports use cases in irrigation, municipal water supply, HVAC, and micro-hydropower.
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Displays examples to help users understand the conversion outputs.
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Browser-based and easy to use without the need for complex calculations.
Examples
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1 horsepower (water) converts to 7.46043 hectowatt [hW].
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2 horsepower (water) converts to 14.92086 hectowatt [hW].
Common Use Cases
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Sizing and selecting pumps for irrigation and municipal water distribution.
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Estimating hydraulic power available from low-head water sources for micro-hydropower turbines.
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Calculating the motor power required to deliver specified water flow and head in piping systems.
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Comparing practical hydraulic power with electrical power ratings for pumps and motors.
Tips & Best Practices
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Use the tool to bridge hydraulic mechanical power calculations with standard electrical units.
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Compare water horsepower to shaft or brake horsepower to estimate pump efficiency.
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Remember that real-world power output may vary due to system losses.
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Consider converting to watts or kilowatts for broader communication when hectowatt usage is uncommon.
Limitations
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Water horsepower is a theoretical mechanical power based on fluid parameters, not accounting for losses.
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Hectowatt is less widely used than watts or kilowatts, which may limit familiarity in some contexts.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What does horsepower (water) measure?
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Horsepower (water) measures the theoretical mechanical power involved in moving water against a certain head, based on flow rate and fluid properties.
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Why convert horsepower (water) to hectowatt?
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Converting to hectowatt helps translate hydraulic power estimates into a standard SI-derived unit for easier comparison with electrical power ratings.
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Is hectowatt commonly used?
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The hectowatt is less common than watts or kilowatts and is mainly used for smaller power outputs or specific contexts.
Key Terminology
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Horsepower (water)
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Theoretical mechanical power required to move a volume of water against a given head, calculated using flow, head, and fluid properties.
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Hectowatt (hW)
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A unit of power equal to 100 watts, used to measure energy conversion rate.
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SI-derived unit
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A unit derived from the International System of Units, using prefixes like hecto- to denote multiples.