Convert Ton of Refrigeration to Milliwatts
Convert Ton of Refrigeration (RT) to Milliwatts (mW) instantly and accurately.
Conversion Formula
mW = RT × 3516852.842
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 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.
Quick Reference Table
| Ton of Refrigeration (RT) | Milliwatts (mW) |
|---|---|
| 1 RT | 3516850 mW |
| 2 RT | 7033710 mW |
| 5 RT | 17584300 mW |
| 10 RT | 35168500 mW |
| 25 RT | 87921300 mW |
| 50 RT | 175843000 mW |
| 100 RT | 351685000 mW |