Convert Milliwatts to Ton of Refrigeration

Convert Milliwatts (mW) to Ton of Refrigeration (RT) instantly and accurately.

Milliwatts (mW)
Ton of Refrigeration (RT)

Conversion Formula

RT = mW × 2.843451361e-7

About Milliwatts

A milliwatt (mW) is 10⁻³ W - the power scale of consumer wireless communications. Wi-Fi access points transmit at 100 mW (20 dBm); mobile phones peak at up to 1,000 mW. A laser pointer emits 1-5 mW; an LED indicator 10 mW; Bluetooth Classic peaks at 100 mW. Standby power implications: 1 mW × 10⁹ devices × 1 year = 8,760 MWh - enough to power a small town, underscoring why milliwatt standby matters at scale. 1 mW = 10⁻³ W.

About Ton of Refrigeration

One ton of refrigeration (RT) = 12,000 BTU/h ≈ 3,517 W - the cooling rate to freeze 1 short ton (2,000 lb) of water in 24 hours. This follows from water's latent heat: 144 BTU/lb × 2,000 lb ÷ 24 h = 12,000 BTU/h. US residential AC is 1.5-5 tons; a large commercial building 500-2,000 tons; a hyperscale data centre 50,000-100,000 tons. The RT is deeply embedded in North American HVAC catalogs, load calculation software, and contractor pricing. 1 RT = 3,516.85 W.

Quick Reference Table

Milliwatts (mW)Ton of Refrigeration (RT)
1 mW2.843 × 10-7 RT
2 mW5.687 × 10-7 RT
5 mW1.422 × 10-6 RT
10 mW2.843 × 10-6 RT
25 mW7.109 × 10-6 RT
50 mW1.422 × 10-5 RT
100 mW2.843 × 10-5 RT

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