DC amps to kW
Convert direct current to kW for solar, battery, telecom and other DC systems and watch the current flow around the circuit.
Inputs
DC circuit
How DC amps to kW calculator works
The DC amps to kW calculator converts direct current (DC) in amperes (A) into kilowatts (kW) with 2 inputs: current and voltage. DC has no power factor, so the calculator multiplies amps by volts and divides by 1,000.
P = I × V / 100050 A on a 48 V battery bus gives 2.4 kW (2,400 W). The circuit view speeds up the moving current dots as the amps rise.
DC amps to kW formula
The DC amps to kW formula is P(kW) = I(A) × V(V) / 1,000. There are 3 DC power formulas: from current and voltage, in watts and from current and resistance.
Power in kW
P(kW) = I × V / 100050 A × 48 V / 1,000 = 2.4 kW
Power in watts
P(W) = I × V20 A × 12 V = 240 W
Joule's law
P(W) = I² × R10 A² × 1.2 Ω = 120 W
Ohm's law (V = I × R), published by Georg Ohm in 1827, links the voltage and resistance forms. DC systems include 12 V vehicles, 24 V trucks, 48 V solar and telecom banks and 380 V DC data centers.
DC amps to kW conversion chart
The DC amps to kW conversion chart lists 12 currents from 1 A to 400 A at 6 DC voltages: 12 V, 24 V, 36 V, 48 V, 110 V and 380 V.
| Amps | 12 VDC | 24 VDC | 36 VDC | 48 VDC | 110 VDC | 380 VDC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 A | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.04 | 0.05 | 0.11 | 0.38 |
| 5 A | 0.06 | 0.12 | 0.18 | 0.24 | 0.55 | 1.9 |
| 10 A | 0.12 | 0.24 | 0.36 | 0.48 | 1.1 | 3.8 |
| 20 A | 0.24 | 0.48 | 0.72 | 0.96 | 2.2 | 7.6 |
| 30 A | 0.36 | 0.72 | 1.08 | 1.44 | 3.3 | 11.4 |
| 50 A | 0.6 | 1.2 | 1.8 | 2.4 | 5.5 | 19 |
| 75 A | 0.9 | 1.8 | 2.7 | 3.6 | 8.25 | 28.5 |
| 100 A | 1.2 | 2.4 | 3.6 | 4.8 | 11 | 38 |
| 150 A | 1.8 | 3.6 | 5.4 | 7.2 | 16.5 | 57 |
| 200 A | 2.4 | 4.8 | 7.2 | 9.6 | 22 | 76 |
| 300 A | 3.6 | 7.2 | 10.8 | 14.4 | 33 | 114 |
| 400 A | 4.8 | 9.6 | 14.4 | 19.2 | 44 | 152 |
200 A at 12 V and 50 A at 48 V both deliver 2.4 kW: a 48 V system carries the same power with a quarter of the current.
DC amps to kW Excel formula
The DC amps to kW Excel formula is =A2*B2/1000 with amps in A2 and volts in B2.
| A | B | C | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amps | Volts | kW | Formula in C |
| 2 | 50 | 48 | 2.4 | =ROUND(A2*B2/1000,2) |
| 3 | 200 | 12 | 2.4 | =ROUND(A3*B3/1000,2) |
| 4 | 100 | 380 | 38 | =ROUND(A4*B4/1000,2) |
Add =A2^2*D2 with resistance in column D to check conductor heat loss in watts.
DC amps to kW equation
The DC amps to kW equation is P = I × V / 1,000, where I is direct current in amperes and V is DC voltage.
- P
- Power in kilowatts (kW)
- I
- Direct current in amperes (A)
- V
- DC voltage in volts (V)
DC voltage and current stay in phase, so the DC power factor is 1 and the equation has no PF term.
DC amps to kW FAQ
How many kW is 100 amps DC at 48 V?
100 amps DC at 48 V is 4.8 kW (4,800 W).
How many kW is 200 amps at 12 V DC?
200 amps at 12 V DC is 2.4 kW (2,400 W).
Does DC have a power factor?
No, DC has no power factor below 1. DC voltage and current stay in phase, so DC power is always amps × volts.
How many amps does a 5 kW solar array produce at 48 V?
A 5 kW solar array produces 104.17 A at 48 V DC at full output. The same array produces 12.5 A on a 400 V string.