Convert power units — watts, kilowatts, horsepower, BTU/hr.
| Unit | Name | Value |
|---|---|---|
| kW | Kilowatt | 0.001 |
| MW | Megawatt | 0.000001 |
| hp | Horsepower (mech) | 0.0013410219 |
| BTU/hr | BTU/hr | 3.4121425 |
Formula: Megawatt = Watt × 1.0000e-6
Multiply any watt value by 1.0000e-6 to get megawatt.
Reverse: Watt = Megawatt × 1e+06
Common watt values — factor: 1 W = 1.0000e-6 MW
| Watt (W) | Megawatt (MW) | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 0.1 W | 1.000e-07 MW | LED night light |
| 1 W | 1.000e-06 MW | Phone charger standby |
| 5 W | 5.000e-06 MW | USB charger |
| 10 W | 1.000e-05 MW | LED bulb |
| 60 W | 6.000e-05 MW | Old incandescent bulb |
| 100 W | 1.000e-04 MW | Laptop |
| 500 W | 0.0005 MW | Small microwave |
| 750 W | 0.00075 MW | 1 hp motor |
| 1,000 W | 0.001 MW | 1 kW / electric kettle |
| 2,000 W | 0.002 MW | 2 kW fan heater |
| 5,000 W | 0.005 MW | 5 kW shower |
| 1e+04 W | 0.01 MW | 10 kW home system |
| 100,000 W | 0.1 MW | 100 kW EV charger |
| 1,000,000 W | 1 MW | 1 MW turbine |
| 1.000e+09 W | 1,000 MW | 1 GW plant |
1 W = 1.0000e-6 MW. Memorize for instant estimates.
Use 0 as a quick mental multiplier.
Multiply result by 1e+06 to recover the original W value.
Calculates power dissipation, heat generation, and efficiency in watts.
Specifies lamp wattage for photometric calculations and energy comparisons.
Uses watts as the SI power unit in energy, work, and thermodynamics lessons.
Verifies device power ratings meet regulatory limits expressed in watts.
Measures server and rack power consumption in watts for cooling calculations.
Tracks appliance consumption in watts using smart plugs and energy monitors.
The watt (W) is the SI unit of power, defined as one joule per second. It was named after James Watt, the Scottish inventor whose improvements to the steam engine in the 1760s–1780s powered the Industrial Revolution. The unit was officially adopted by the Second Congress of the British Association for the Advancement of Science in 1882.
Watts define the power consumption of all electrical devices: a phone charger draws 5–20W, a laptop 30–65W, a microwave 800–1200W. Electrical utility systems worldwide are rated and billed based on watts and kilowatts.
Interesting fact: James Watt himself coined the term 'horsepower' to market his steam engines to mine owners — he defined it as the power needed to lift 33,000 pounds one foot in one minute. The watt was named in his honor a century after his death.
The megawatt (MW) equals 1,000 kW or 1,000,000 watts, and is the standard unit for power plant output, industrial facilities, and large electrical infrastructure.
Power plants are rated in megawatts: a typical nuclear reactor produces 1,000–1,600 MW; a large wind turbine generates 2–14 MW; utility-scale solar farms range from 10 to 2,000 MW. The capacity of a city's electrical grid is measured in megawatts.
Interesting fact: The Hoover Dam generates about 2,080 MW at full capacity. A single lightning bolt releases about 1,000 MW — but only for about 1 microsecond, so the total energy is relatively small.
Converting watt to megawatt is common across electrical engineering, automotive, and HVAC industries. Different sectors use different power units — watts and kilowatts in electrical systems, horsepower in automotive and industrial machinery, and BTU/hr in heating and cooling — making accurate conversion essential for international equipment specifications and cross-disciplinary engineering.
Quick reference: 5 W = 5.0000e-6 MW and 10 W = 1.0000e-5 MW. Reverse: 1 MW = 1e+06 W. Exact factor: 1 W = 1.0000e-6 MW.
All conversions use IEEE 754 double-precision arithmetic, accurate to at least 8 significant figures.