❄️ AC Cooling Capacity Converter

Convert air conditioning cooling capacity between BTU/hr, kcal/hr, tons of refrigeration, and watts.

❄️ All Unit Conversions

BTU per Hour
12,000
British Thermal Units
kcal per Hour
3,024
Kilocalories
Tons of Refrigeration
1.0
Standard Ton
Kilowatts
3.52
Power Rating
Watts
3,517
Base Power Unit
Horsepower
4.72
Mechanical Power

🌡️ AC System Visualization

❄️
🌡️
40-70°F
Temperature Range
💨
400 CFM
Airflow Rate
⚡
3.5 kW
Power Consumption
📏
300 sq ft
Coverage Area
⭐ Energy Efficiency Rating
10.2 EER
Good efficiency for standard AC unit
🚗 Vehicle AC Capacity Examples
🚗
Compact Car AC
8,000 BTU/hr
0.67 Tons | 2.34 kW
Small cabin, city driving
🚙
Mid-size Sedan AC
12,000 BTU/hr
1.0 Ton | 3.52 kW
Standard family car
🚛
SUV/Truck AC
18,000 BTU/hr
1.5 Tons | 5.27 kW
Large cabin, heavy duty
🚐
Van/Minivan AC
24,000 BTU/hr
2.0 Tons | 7.03 kW
Large passenger area
🚌
Bus AC System
36,000 BTU/hr
3.0 Tons | 10.55 kW
Public transportation
🚚
Semi-Truck AC
60,000 BTU/hr
5.0 Tons | 17.58 kW
Long-haul trucking
🏍️
Motorcycle AC
6,000 BTU/hr
0.5 Tons | 1.76 kW
Touring bikes, rare system
🏎️
Sports Car AC
15,000 BTU/hr
1.25 Tons | 4.40 kW
Performance vehicle
📊 AC Capacity Reference Chart
Application BTU/hr Tons kW kcal/hr Coverage Area
Small Car 6,000-8,000 0.5-0.67 1.76-2.34 1,512-2,016 80-120 sq ft
Compact Car 8,000-10,000 0.67-0.83 2.34-2.93 2,016-2,520 120-150 sq ft
Mid-size Sedan 10,000-12,000 0.83-1.0 2.93-3.52 2,520-3,024 150-200 sq ft
Full-size Sedan 12,000-15,000 1.0-1.25 3.52-4.40 3,024-3,780 200-250 sq ft
Small SUV 15,000-18,000 1.25-1.5 4.40-5.27 3,780-4,536 250-300 sq ft
Large SUV 18,000-24,000 1.5-2.0 5.27-7.03 4,536-6,048 300-400 sq ft
Pickup Truck 15,000-20,000 1.25-1.67 4.40-5.86 3,780-5,040 250-350 sq ft
Van/Minivan 20,000-30,000 1.67-2.5 5.86-8.79 5,040-7,560 350-500 sq ft
Small Bus 30,000-48,000 2.5-4.0 8.79-14.07 7,560-12,096 500-800 sq ft
Large Bus 48,000-72,000 4.0-6.0 14.07-21.1 12,096-18,144 800-1200 sq ft
Semi-Truck Cab 36,000-60,000 3.0-5.0 10.55-17.58 9,072-15,120 60-100 sq ft cab

❄️ AC Capacity Guidelines

  • Rule of thumb: 20-25 BTU per square foot
  • Climate factor: Add 10% for hot climates
  • Insulation: Poor insulation requires 30% more capacity
  • Window area: Large windows increase load
  • Occupancy: Add 600 BTU per person
  • Equipment heat: Electronics add to cooling load
📚 AC Cooling Capacity Guide

❄️ Understanding AC Capacity

AC cooling capacity measures how much heat an air conditioning system can remove per hour. It's expressed in various units, with BTU/hr being most common in North America and kW in many other regions.

🔢 Conversion Formulas

  • BTU/hr to Tons: Tons = BTU/hr ÷ 12,000
  • BTU/hr to kW: kW = BTU/hr ÷ 3,412
  • BTU/hr to kcal/hr: kcal/hr = BTU/hr × 0.252
  • Tons to BTU/hr: BTU/hr = Tons × 12,000
  • kW to BTU/hr: BTU/hr = kW × 3,412
  • Watts to HP: HP = Watts ÷ 745.7

📏 Unit Explanations

  • BTU/hr: British Thermal Units per hour (heat removal rate)
  • Ton: 12,000 BTU/hr (ice melting equivalent)
  • kW: Kilowatts (electrical power equivalent)
  • kcal/hr: Kilocalories per hour (metric heat unit)
  • Watt: Base unit of power
  • HP: Mechanical horsepower (745.7 watts)

🌡️ Factors Affecting AC Capacity Needs

  • Vehicle size: Larger cabin requires more capacity
  • Window area: More glass increases heat load
  • Insulation quality: Poor insulation increases requirements
  • Climate: Hotter regions need more capacity
  • Occupancy: More passengers generate more heat
  • Usage pattern: Stop-and-go vs highway driving

🚗 Vehicle-Specific Considerations

  • Engine heat: Vehicles generate additional heat load
  • Airflow: Moving vehicle aids cooling efficiency
  • Compressor drive: Engine-driven vs electric compressor
  • Refrigerant type: R-134a, R-1234yf affects performance
  • Dual-zone systems: Front and rear climate control

⚡ Energy Efficiency Ratings

  • EER: Energy Efficiency Ratio (BTU/hr ÷ Watts)
  • SEER: Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio
  • COP: Coefficient of Performance (metric)
  • Good EER: 10-12 for automotive AC
  • Excellent EER: 12+ for premium systems

🔧 AC System Components

  • Compressor: Pressurizes refrigerant
  • Condenser: Releases heat to outside air
  • Evaporator: Absorbs heat from cabin air
  • Expansion valve: Controls refrigerant flow
  • Blower motor: Circulates air through system

📊 Calculating Required Capacity

  • Base calculation: Volume × 25 BTU/cubic foot
  • Window factor: Add 1,000 BTU per large window
  • Occupant load: Add 600 BTU per person
  • Climate multiplier: × 1.1 for hot regions
  • Insulation factor: × 1.3 for poor insulation

💡 Using This Calculator Effectively

  • Check vehicle specifications for actual AC capacity
  • Use BTU/hr for North American specifications
  • Use kW for European and Asian specifications
  • Consider altitude and humidity effects
  • Factor in system age and maintenance condition
  • Compare with similar vehicle capacities for validation