How is Horsepower Calculated?
Horsepower sells cars and wins races, but can be a bit difficult to fathom when it comes to understanding how it’s calculated. There are several different means of calculating power, but the scale remains the same.HistoryHorsepower was originally developed by James Watt to give a frame of reference for the potential of steam engines relative to draft horses.Torque and HorsepowerTorque is a measurement of how much force an engine can produce per crankshaft revolution. Horsepower is a function of how much torque an engine can produce relative to the engine’s measured RPM.FormulaThe formula for calculating horsepower is: Horsepower = RPM x Torque (in ft. lbs.) divided by 5,252. For instance, an engine with 3.1 foot lbs. of torque at 1,725 RPM would have 1 horsepower.ConversionHorsepower has a direct relationship with electrical wattage (Voltage x Amperage of an electric motor), in that one horsepower is equal to between 735 and 746 watts. For example, a 120-volt motor using 100 amps of cu
