What Is This Tool?
This converter transforms power values expressed in pound-foot per hour, a unit indicating mechanical work done slowly in imperial terms, into metric horsepower, which measures engine and motor power commonly across many regions.
How to Use This Tool?
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Enter the power value in pound-foot per hour into the input field.
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Select pound-foot/hour [lbf*ft/h] as the source unit.
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Choose horsepower (metric) as the unit to convert to.
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Click the convert button to see the equivalent power expressed in metric horsepower.
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Use the results to interpret power for engines, motors, or mechanical devices in metric terms.
Key Features
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Converts very low mechanical power measurements between imperial and metric systems.
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Supports legacy and historical power unit conversions for accurate comparison.
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Provides precise translation of small continuous power outputs into widely used metric horsepower values.
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Browser-based and easy to use without requiring additional software.
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Useful for automotive, industrial, and vintage equipment power assessments.
Examples
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Convert 1000 pound-foot/hour [lbf*ft/h]: 1000 × 5.1205538657703e-7 = 0.000512055 horsepower (metric).
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Convert 500000 pound-foot/hour [lbf*ft/h]: 500000 × 5.1205538657703e-7 = 0.256027 horsepower (metric).
Common Use Cases
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Translating very low mechanical power from older imperial units into metric horsepower for easy comparison.
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Documenting historical or vintage machinery specifications where power is expressed in foot-pound units.
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Evaluating small motor, pump, or engine outputs in automotive or industrial specifications.
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Converting hand-crank or slow winch mechanical work rates from imperial to metric units.
Tips & Best Practices
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Always verify the context to ensure the power range fits low continuous mechanical output applications.
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Consider the small converted values and use suitable precision settings when interpreting results.
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Be aware that horsepower units can vary by country and standard, so clarify unit definitions if needed.
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Use this tool primarily for low power assessments since pound-foot/hour is not suited for high-power conversions.
Limitations
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Pound-foot/hour expresses extremely low power rates and is not accurate for large power ranges.
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Metric horsepower is larger, making converted values very small and sensitive to floating-point precision.
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Horsepower units differ regionally, so this conversion applies specifically to metric horsepower standards.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What does pound-foot per hour measure?
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It measures mechanical work done per hour in imperial units, representing very low continuous power outputs.
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Where is metric horsepower commonly used?
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Metric horsepower is widely used in rating engine power of vehicles and small industrial motors in Europe and Asia.
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Can this converter be used for high power values?
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No, pound-foot per hour is intended for very low power measurements and may be imprecise for high-power scenarios.
Key Terminology
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Pound-foot per hour [lbf*ft/h]
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An imperial power unit quantifying one foot-pound force of work done per hour, representing very low mechanical power.
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Horsepower (metric)
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A metric unit of power equal to exactly 735.49875 watts, used to express engine and motor power.