The kW measures the power provided by electrical equipment in relation to time, or we may say that it quantifies the work produced by electrical appliances in relation to time.
The kWh is a designated term for kilowatt-hour and finds its employment to calculate work done by electric gadgets for a specified duration.
Kilowatt-hour is a unit of energy that is obtained by multiplying the power by the number of hours for which an electrical instrument is used. The power utilized by an electrical item such as a light bulb, electric heater, fan, and so on is measured in kW.
Key Takeaways
- kW (kilowatt) is a power unit, while kWh (kilowatt-hour) is a unit of energy.
- kW measures the energy consumption rate, while kWh measures the total energy over time.
- A higher kW rating indicates a more powerful appliance, while a higher kWh value signifies more energy consumption.
KW vs KWH
kW stands for kilowatt, which is a unit of power. It measures the rate at which energy is consumed or produced at a given moment. Kilowatt-hour (KWh) measures the amount of energy consumed or produced over a period of time.
The kW measures the power provided by various or single electrical equipment in relation to time, or we may say that it quantifies the work produced by electrical appliances in relation to time.
Home equipment, such as fans, electric heaters, and lamps, have rated power. And this power is calculated in kilowatts.
The kWh is a designated term for kilowatt-hour and finds its employment to calculate work done by electric gadgets for a specified duration.
It is used to calculate the amount of energy utilized and consumed by machines. Limited consumption of energy is measured in kWh, whereas Megawatt-hours are commonly used when there is a large or significant level of energy use.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | KW | KWH |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | The kW is a unit of measurement for the amount of power used and received by electrical systems such as motors, engines, and radiators. | The kWh, on the contrary, is a unit of measurement for the quantity of energy consumed by electronic components. |
| Symbol | kW is an abbreviated form or symbol for kilowatt | kWh is a notation for kilowatt-hour. |
| Usage | The power utilised by an electrical item such as a light bulb, electric heater, fan, and so on is measured in kW. | kilowatt-hour is a unit of energy that is obtained by multiplying the power by the number of hours for which an electrical instrument is used. |
| Calculation | Calculates the amount of power that electrical equipment generates and use. | It calculates the amount of energy each appliance consumes. |
| Formula | The formula is given by (joule/ second)*1000. | The formula is given by Kwh= Kw* hour |
What is KW?
The kW measures the power provided by electrical equipment in relation to time, or we may say that It estimates the amount of work done by electrical equipment in relation to time.
Home equipment, such as fans, electric heaters, and lamps, have rated power. And this power is calculated in kilowatts. kW is an abbreviated form or symbol for kilowatt. Determines the quantity of power generated and consumed by electrical devices.
A piece of machinery that uses power at a rate of 2 kW as opposed to 1 kW, for example, consumes electricity nearly twice as fast.
However, in order to describe the real quantity of power utilized, there must be a period of time during which that rate happens, and this is where a kWh comes in.1 kWh indicates one hour of power consumption at a rate of one kW; hence, the 2 kW device would be using 2 kWh in an hour or 1 kWh in half an hour.
The formula is simply kW x time = kWh.
Power is a measure of how quickly something generates or uses energy. The greater a house’s kW rating, the faster it consumes energy.
Joules per second (J/s) is an easy-to-understand measure of power.
What is KWH?
Kilowatt-hour is a type of energy unit, whereas calorie is a type of unit used for the measurement of energy. A joule is a form of measuring unit in the same way that a kilogram is.
The list of units used to measure energy is not exhaustive, including Barrels of oil, Megajoule (MJ), Horsepower, and many other units we may not have heard of.
It is not different from how we measure distance in feet, meters, and time in hours, seconds, and minutes. The distance between Kolkata to Mumbai is 1934.4 km, in miles, it is 1201.98043, and in the yard, it is 2115485.56.
When people say a biscuit has 160 calories, they’re alluding to how much energy it has. 160 calories = 0.185 kWh
Energy may change its shape. We may devour the cookie for energy. Alternatively, we may burn the cookie and convert it into thermal energy.
With the proper equipment, we could convert the heat energy from the burning cookie into electrical energy to power lights, fans, and other devices.
Some energy would be lost during the conversion process, but that burned biscuit should be able to power a light source for at least a few seconds.
Main Differences Between KW and KWH
- The kW is a unit of measurement for the amount of power used and received by electrical systems such as motors, engines, and radiators. On the contrary, the kWh is a unit of measurement for the quantity of energy consumed by electronic components.
- kW is an abbreviated form or symbol for kilowatt, whereas kWh is a notation for kilowatt-hour.
- Kilowatt-hour is a unit of energy that is obtained by multiplying the power by the number of hours for which an electrical instrument is used. The power utilized by an electrical item such as a light bulb, electric heater, fan, and so on is measured in kW.
- The first calculates the quantity of power generated and used by electrical equipment, while the second calculates the amount of energy consumed by each item.
- A kilowatt is a unit of measurement for the power of small appliances such as light bulbs and motors, whereas Kilowatt-hour has been used to compute electrical energy.
Last Updated : 25 June, 2023
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Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.
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