What does one ton (refrigeration) represent?

It represents the power needed to melt one short ton of ice in 24 hours, equivalent to 12,000 BTU/h or about 3,517 watts, used mainly to express cooling capacity.

How is horsepower (550 ft*lbf/s) defined?

Horsepower (550 ft*lbf/s) is an imperial power unit defined as 550 foot-pound-force per second, equal to about 745.7 watts, commonly used for engines and mechanical devices.

Why convert ton (refrigeration) to horsepower?

Conversion assists in comparing cooling power to mechanical power, useful in HVAC, refrigeration, and engine applications where different units apply.

How to Convert from Ton (refrigeration) to Horsepower (550 ft*lbf/s)?

Learn how to convert power units from ton (refrigeration), a cooling capacity measurement, to mechanical horsepower (550 ft*lbf/s) commonly used for engines and motors.

Ton (refrigeration)

Horsepower (550 ft*lbf/s)

Please check your input. It must be a valid numeric value.

Ton (refrigeration) to Horsepower (550 ft*lbf/s) Conversion Table

Ton (refrigeration)	Horsepower (550 ft*lbf/s)

Custom Unit Conversion Table Generator – Instant Printable Conversion Tables

Start Value

Enter the starting number (positive decimal or integer ≥ 0). Example: 0.1, 1, 5.

End Value

Enter the ending number (positive decimal or integer > Start Value). Example: 10, 50, 100.

Interval

Enter the step size (positive decimal > 0 and < End Value – Start Value). Example: 1.0, 2.5.

Ton (refrigeration) to Horsepower (550 ft*lbf/s) Conversion Table
Ton (refrigeration)	Horsepower (550 ft*lbf/s)

Explore More Power Units Converter

What Is This Tool?

This converter helps transform power values measured in tons (refrigeration), which indicate cooling capacity, into horsepower (550 ft·lbf/s), an imperial unit for mechanical power. It aids comparisons across different unit systems used in HVAC, refrigeration, and mechanical applications.

How to Use This Tool?

Enter the power value in ton (refrigeration).
Select ton (refrigeration) as the starting unit.
Choose horsepower (550 ft·lbf/s) as the target unit.
Click convert to see the equivalent power in horsepower.
Use the result to compare or specify equipment power.

Key Features

Converts ton (refrigeration) to mechanical horsepower (550 ft·lbf/s).
Reflects standard conversion rate based on defined watt equivalents.
Useful for HVAC, refrigeration, engine rating, and equipment sizing.
Supports evaluation of cooling power against mechanical work rates.
Browser-based and easy to use.

Examples

1 ton (refrigeration) equals approximately 4.716 horsepower (550 ft·lbf/s).
3 tons (refrigeration) equals about 14.1485 horsepower (550 ft·lbf/s).

Common Use Cases

Rating residential and commercial air-conditioning units in tons and comparing to engine power.
Specifying power for refrigeration and cold storage systems.
Sizing cooling equipment and performing load calculations in buildings.
Comparing mechanical horsepower ratings of engines to cooling capacity for equipment selection.
Evaluating HVAC and mechanical systems using different power unit standards.

Tips & Best Practices

Understand that ton (refrigeration) relates to cooling, not mechanical work output.
Use the conversion rate strictly for comparison purposes between unit types.
Double-check results when integrating with engineering calculations involving mixed units.
Apply this tool for preliminary assessments before detailed design.
Consider both units’ typical contexts when analyzing power requirements.

Limitations

Ton (refrigeration) measures cooling capacity, which differs physically from mechanical power output.
Direct equivalence may not represent identical physical processes or performance.
Conversion precision may vary slightly due to rounding or watt equivalency differences.
Use caution when interpreting converted values for engineering decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does one ton (refrigeration) represent?: It represents the power needed to melt one short ton of ice in 24 hours, equivalent to 12,000 BTU/h or about 3,517 watts, used mainly to express cooling capacity.
How is horsepower (550 ft*lbf/s) defined?: Horsepower (550 ft*lbf/s) is an imperial power unit defined as 550 foot-pound-force per second, equal to about 745.7 watts, commonly used for engines and mechanical devices.
Why convert ton (refrigeration) to horsepower?: Conversion assists in comparing cooling power to mechanical power, useful in HVAC, refrigeration, and engine applications where different units apply.

Key Terminology

Ton (refrigeration): A non-SI unit of power indicating cooling capacity, based on the energy to melt ice at a fixed rate.
Horsepower (550 ft*lbf/s): An imperial unit of mechanical power defined by a specific rate of work, commonly used for engines and motors.
BTU/h: British Thermal Units per hour, a unit measuring heat energy transfer rate.
Watt: The SI unit of power representing one joule per second.

Quick Knowledge Check

What physical quantity does a ton (refrigeration) measure?

Mechanical power output

Cooling capacity

Electrical energy

Horsepower (550 ft*lbf/s) is approximately equal to how many watts?

About 3,517 watts

About 746 watts

About 12,000 watts

Why might someone convert ton (refrigeration) to mechanical horsepower?

To compare cooling power with engine power

To measure electrical consumption

To calculate fuel efficiency

Share Us

Similar Calculators

Online Heat Flux Density Units Converter Online Weight and Mass Units Converter Online Fuel Consumption Units Converter Online Moment of Inertia Units Converter Online Length Units Converter