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🏭 Industrial Electrical Conversion · Three-Phase & Single-Phase

5 kW to Amps at 208V Three-Phase AC

Exact current (Amps), real power (kW), apparent power (kVA), mechanical horsepower (HP), breaker rating, and conductor size for 5 kW on a 208V Three-Phase AC circuit.

Line Current (0.85 PF)16.33 AAt 1.0 PF: 13.88 A
Active / Apparent Power5.0 kW5.88 kVA · 3.1 kVAR
Recommended Breaker25 A (NEC)20 A (IEC Nominal)
Recommended Copper Wire12 AWGIEC Metric: 2.5 mm²

Engineering Breakdown for 5 kW at 208V

Input Rating5 kW (208V Three-Phase AC)
Amperage at 0.85 Power Factor (Industrial Motor/Transformer)16.33 Amps
Amperage at 1.00 Power Factor (Resistive Load)13.88 Amps
Real Power (kW / Watts)5.0 kW (5,000 W)
Apparent Power (kVA) & Reactive Power (kVAR)5.88 kVA / 3.1 kVAR
Equivalent Mechanical Horsepower (HP)6.71 HP
NEC 125% Continuous Circuit Breaker25 A
Minimum Copper Conductor (100 ft / 30 m, ≤3% Drop)12 AWG (NEC) / 2.5 mm² (IEC)

Frequently Asked Questions

How many amps is 5 kW at 208V (3-Phase)?

At 208V Three-Phase AC, 5 kW equals 16.33 Amps at an industrial power factor of 0.85 (or 13.88 Amps at unity power factor 1.0).

What size breaker and wire is needed for 5 kW at 208V?

For 16.33A continuous load, NEC requires a 125% rated breaker of 25A with 12 AWG copper conductors, while IEC standard sizing uses a 20A breaker with 2.5 mm² copper cable.