kVA to kW and amps calculator

Generators and UPS units are often rated in kVA. Convert to kW with the power factor, and see how many amps that means at your supply voltage.

Results

Real power—

Apparent power—

Reactive power—

Current—

kW = kVA × Power factor kVAR = √(kVA² − kW²) Single-phase amps = kVA × 1,000 ÷ V Three-phase amps = kVA × 1,000 ÷ (√3 × V)

A 3 kVA generator at power factor 0.8 supplies 2.4 kW. At 230 V that's up to 13 A.
A 10 kVA three-phase generator at 400 V supplies about 14.4 A per phase.
A 5 kW load at power factor 0.9 needs 5.56 kVA of supply.

How many kW is 1 kVA?

At the standard generator power factor of 0.8, 1 kVA = 0.8 kW.

What size generator in kVA for 5kW?

5 kW ÷ 0.8 = 6.25 kVA, so a 6.5–7 kVA generator, plus headroom for starting surges.