Enter your power (kW), voltage, and power factor, then select your current type (AC or DC) to find the current in amps — the kW to Amps Calculator also shows your result in milliamperes and displays the exact formula used for the conversion.
Current
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Current (Milliamperes)
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Formula Used
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The amperage for 1 kW depends on voltage and current type. For DC at 240V: 4.17A. For single-phase AC at 240V with 0.8 power factor: 5.21A. For three-phase AC at 240V with 0.8 power factor: 3.01A per phase.
No, voltage is essential for kW to amps conversion. The current (amps) equals power (kW) divided by voltage and other factors. Without voltage, the calculation cannot be performed accurately.
kW (kilowatts) is real power that does actual work, while kVA (kilovolt-amperes) is apparent power. kW = kVA × power factor. For purely resistive loads (power factor = 1), kW equals kVA.
Motors have inductive components that cause current to lag voltage, reducing power factor (typically 0.7-0.9). Heaters are purely resistive with power factor of 1.0, meaning all current contributes to useful work.
Check the equipment nameplate or manual for power factor ratings. Common values: incandescent lights (1.0), fluorescent lights (0.9), induction motors (0.7-0.9), transformers (0.95-0.99).
For three-phase AC: I = P / (√3 × V × PF), where I is current in amps, P is power in watts, V is line-to-line voltage, and PF is power factor. The √3 factor accounts for three-phase power distribution.
Voltage drop reduces the actual voltage at the load, increasing current draw for the same power. Always use the actual voltage at the equipment, not the source voltage, for accurate amperage calculations.