Convert Mechanical Horsepower to BTU per Second
Convert Mechanical Horsepower (hp) to BTU per Second (BTU/s) instantly and accurately.
Conversion Formula
BTU/s = hp × 0.7067871049
About Mechanical Horsepower
The mechanical horsepower (hp) is exactly 550 ft·lbf/s ≈ 745.7 W - defined by James Watt by timing mine horses to set a comparable steam engine rating. A typical compact car produces 100-150 hp (75-112 kW); a sports car 300-600 hp; an F1 car ~1,000 hp (745 kW). SAE net horsepower is measured at the flywheel with all accessories fitted. Marine diesel engines, aircraft piston engines, and lawn equipment are still rated in hp. 1 hp = 550 ft·lbf/s = 745.6998715822704 W.
About BTU per Second
One BTU per second (BTU/s) ≈ 1,055 W - close to 1 kW but slightly larger. Used when heat rates are so high that per-hour or per-minute numbers become unwieldy. In fire protection engineering, large house fires peak at 500-2,000 BTU/s; industrial fires at millions of BTU/s. Blast characterisation for petrochemical safety and large industrial heat exchangers with duties of millions of BTU/h are conveniently expressed in BTU/s. Since 1 BTU/s ≈ 1.055 kW, conversion to SI is straightforward. 1 BTU/s = 1,055.056 W.
Quick Reference Table
| Mechanical Horsepower (hp) | BTU per Second (BTU/s) |
|---|---|
| 1 hp | 0.706787 BTU/s |
| 2 hp | 1.41357 BTU/s |
| 5 hp | 3.53394 BTU/s |
| 10 hp | 7.06787 BTU/s |
| 25 hp | 17.6697 BTU/s |
| 50 hp | 35.3394 BTU/s |
| 100 hp | 70.6787 BTU/s |