What Is This Tool?
This unit converter transforms power measurements from pound-foot per hour, an imperial unit representing mechanical work done per hour, into electric horsepower, a standard unit commonly used to rate electric motors and electrical drives.
How to Use This Tool?
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Enter the power value in pound-foot/hour (lbf*ft/h).
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Select pound-foot/hour as the source unit and electric horsepower as the target unit.
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Click convert to obtain the equivalent power in electric horsepower.
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Use the result for comparing vintage mechanical power to modern electric motor ratings.
Key Features
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Converts very low power values from legacy imperial units to electric horsepower.
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Uses a precise conversion factor specific to pound-foot/hour to electric horsepower.
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Supports comparison between mechanical power in old imperial units and electric motor ratings.
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Browser-based and easy to use for diverse industrial and historical applications.
Examples
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10 pound-foot/hour equals 5.0484731468924e-6 electric horsepower.
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1,000 pound-foot/hour equals 5.0484731468924e-4 electric horsepower.
Common Use Cases
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Expressing very low mechanical power outputs in legacy imperial units.
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Documenting historical or vintage equipment specifications that use foot-pound units.
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Estimating hand-crank or slow winch work rates and converting them to standard electric horsepower.
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Sizing motor controllers and specifying electric motor power for industrial equipment.
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Comparing power ratings between mechanical equipment and electric motors.
Tips & Best Practices
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Ensure power values represent steady, continuous output for accurate conversion.
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Use precise measurement tools to avoid rounding errors with very small converted values.
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Refer to motor nameplates or manufacturer specifications when applying electric horsepower values.
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Keep in mind this conversion is ideal for low power rates typical in small machinery or antique equipment.
Limitations
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Pound-foot/hour measures extremely low power, producing very small horsepower values.
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Converted values require attention to precision to prevent misinterpretation due to rounding.
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This tool assumes steady, continuous power and does not apply to variable or peak power outputs.
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Not suitable for high-power or dynamic power measurement scenarios.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is pound-foot per hour (lbf*ft/h)?
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Pound-foot per hour is an imperial unit of power representing mechanical work done at a rate of one foot-pound force per hour, used mainly for very low power measurements.
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Why convert pound-foot/hour to electric horsepower?
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Converting helps translate legacy imperial units into a widely accepted unit for electric motors, aiding in comparing vintage mechanical power with modern electric machine ratings.
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Can this conversion be used for peak power values?
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No, this conversion is intended for steady, continuous power outputs and may not accurately represent variable or peak power measurements.
Key Terminology
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Pound-foot per hour (lbf·ft/h)
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An imperial unit of power representing the rate of mechanical work equivalent to one foot-pound force performed each hour.
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Electric horsepower
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A unit of power commonly used to rate electric motors, defined as exactly 746 watts, reflecting mechanical work converted by an electric machine.
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Conversion rate
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The specific factor (5.0484731468924e-7) used to calculate electric horsepower from pound-foot per hour.