Question 1

What is foot-pounds per second?

Accepted Answer

Ft-lbf/s is imperial mechanical power: work (ft-lbf) per time (s). 1 ft-lbf/s = 1.356 watts. Originally defined horsepower in terms of this: 550 ft-lbf/s = 1 hp.

Question 2

Why do engineers still use ft-lbf/s?

Accepted Answer

Legacy mechanical engineering uses imperial units. 550 ft-lbf/s = 1 mechanical horsepower by definition. Still seen in older US machinery specifications and textbooks.

Question 3

What's the difference between mechanical and electrical horsepower?

Accepted Answer

Mechanical HP (550 ft·lb/s) = 745.7W. Electrical HP = 746W. Metric HP (PS) = 735.5W. Boiler HP = 9810W. Different industries defined their own standards.

Question 4

How do I size a motor or generator?

Accepted Answer

Calculate peak power needs, add 20-25% safety margin. Consider duty cycle - continuous vs intermittent use affects sizing differently.

Ft lbf s to Watts Power Converter - Free Online Tool

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