Convert Ton of Refrigeration to Electrical Horsepower
Convert Ton of Refrigeration (RT) to Electrical Horsepower (hp(E)) instantly and accurately.
Conversion Formula
hp(E) = RT × 4.714279949
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.
About Electrical Horsepower
The electrical horsepower (hp(E)) is defined as exactly 746 W - the US NEMA rounding used on electric motor nameplates. It differs from mechanical hp (745.7 W) by only 0.04%. Every NEMA-rated motor in the US carries a horsepower nameplate: a '5 hp motor' delivers 5 × 746 = 3,730 W. NEC motor branch-circuit sizing tables, overload relay selection, and starter ratings are all based on hp(E). Despite global kW adoption, US industrial motor infrastructure remains standardised in electrical horsepower. 1 hp(E) = 746 W.
Quick Reference Table
| Ton of Refrigeration (RT) | Electrical Horsepower (hp(E)) |
|---|---|
| 1 RT | 4.71428 hp(E) |
| 2 RT | 9.42856 hp(E) |
| 5 RT | 23.5714 hp(E) |
| 10 RT | 47.1428 hp(E) |
| 25 RT | 117.857 hp(E) |
| 50 RT | 235.714 hp(E) |
| 100 RT | 471.428 hp(E) |