Electrical Unit Conversion Chart

Use this electrical unit conversion chart after the calculator result to document original value, target unit, prefix conversion, and magnitude check before entering another calculator.

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Quick reference table

Most electrical calculator mistakes start with mismatched units. Use checks such as 500 mA = 0.5 A, 2 kW = 2,000 W, and 3 kWh = 3,000 Wh before calculation, then keep voltage, current, power, energy, resistance, capacitance, and frequency units labeled in the worksheet.

Common electrical unit prefixes

Common electrical unit prefixes
Prefix	Symbol	Multiplier	Example
micro	u	0.000001	10 uF = 0.00001 F
milli	m	0.001	500 mA = 0.5 A
kilo	k	1,000	2 kW = 2,000 W
mega	M	1,000,000	5 Mohm = 5,000,000 ohms
kilowatt-hour	kWh	1,000 Wh	3 kWh = 3,000 Wh

Unit family checks before calculator entry

Unit family checks before calculator entry
Quantity	Common units	Do not confuse with
Current	A, mA	Power in W or kW
Power	W, kW, hp, VA, kVA	Energy in Wh or kWh
Energy	Wh, kWh	Instantaneous power in W or kW
Resistance	ohm, kohm, Mohm	Reactance unless the AC model needs it
Capacitance	F, uF, nF, pF	Charge or energy storage without the right formula

Electrical unit conversion handoff

Electrical unit conversion handoff
Search or worksheet need	Use this chart for	Open the calculator when
mA to A or A to mA	Moving current values into the unit expected by a formula	The converted current will be used with voltage, resistance, or power
uF to F, nF to F, or pF to F	Converting capacitance before RC timing or reactance work	Capacitance, frequency, timing, or energy must be calculated
W, kW, VA, kVA, and kWh	Keeping power, apparent power, and energy from being mixed	Power factor, runtime, or billing energy changes the result
ohm, kohm, and Mohm	Checking prefix direction before entering resistance	Ohm law, divider, RC, or insulation-resistance context is needed

Formula basis

micro = 0.000001, milli = 0.001, kilo = 1,000, mega = 1,000,000. Convert to the unit expected by the formula before entering values.

Base voltage unit is volt.
Base current unit is ampere.
Base power unit is watt.
Base energy unit for billing work is commonly kilowatt-hour.

Worked examples

Convert milliamps to ampsA 750 mA load is 0.75 A. Use 0.75 A in formulas that expect amperes rather than milliamperes.

Convert microfarads to faradsA 47 uF capacitor is 0.000047 F. Use the farad value in formulas that expect base capacitance units.

Assumptions. Balanced load and line-to-line voltage assumptions behind this chart.

The chart covers unit conversion only and does not validate whether the resulting electrical design is appropriate.
Some calculators intentionally use kW, kVA, kWh, AWG, or other non-base units because those are natural project inputs.
The original value should remain visible when a later reviewer needs to trace a label, meter reading, datasheet, or calculator result.

Code and standard notes. Planning limits that should be checked before final equipment selection.

Use equipment labels and calculator field labels carefully before applying converted values to design or testing decisions.

How to use this chart

1Read the field labelCheck whether the calculator expects amps, milliamps, watts, kilowatts, ohms, kilohms, microfarads, hertz, or another unit.

2Convert prefixes firstMove micro, milli, kilo, mega, and other prefix values into the unit expected by the calculator before entering the number.

3Check magnitude after conversionAfter the calculator result, compare the converted value with the original label so decimal-place or prefix mistakes are caught early.

Worksheet checklist. Record source basis, review gaps, and assumptions before using the chart result.

Record source valueWrite the source value exactly as shown on the label, datasheet, meter, drawing, estimate, or calculator result.
Select target unitMatch the target unit to the calculator field or formula that will use the converted value.
Keep both valuesStore the original value and converted value together so later formula checks can trace the unit conversion.

Common mistakes to avoid. Review these before turning chart current into an equipment decision.

Dropping a metric prefix and entering 500 mA as 500 A in a calculator field.
Converting kWh, kW, and kVA as if they describe the same electrical quantity.
Moving a decimal three or six places in the wrong direction when converting milli, micro, kilo, or mega values.

Frequently asked questions

These answers explain how to use the chart without turning a quick reference into a final design decision.

Should every value be converted to base units?

Convert when the formula or calculator field expects base units. Keep project-facing values in the units shown by the calculator or equipment label.

Why keep the original unit in the worksheet?

Keeping the original unit preserves the source context and makes it easier to catch prefix or decimal-place mistakes later.

Why are kW, kVA, and kWh not interchangeable?

kW is real power, kVA is apparent power, and kWh is energy over time. They describe different quantities even when the numbers look similar.

What is the quickest way to avoid electrical unit mistakes?

Write the source value, convert only to the unit expected by the next formula or calculator field, and keep the original value beside the converted value for review.