Conversion Factors

Tech Tip #30 2000

Pressure/Vacuum

Mass
Multiply
to get
Apoth dram
Apoth dram
Apoth dram
Apoth dram
Apoth lb
Apoth lb
Apoth lb
Apoth lb
Apoth oz
Apoth oz
Apoth oz
Apoth oz
Avdp drams
Avdp drams
Avdp drams
Avdp drams
Avdp lb
Avdp lb
Avdp lb
Avdp oz
Avdp oz
Avdp oz
carats
carats
grams
grams
lb
oz

60
0.1371
0.008571
3.88794
5760
13.1657
0.822857
373.242
480
1.09714
0.068571
31.1035
27.344
0.0625
0.003906
1.77185
7000
16
453.592
437.5
0.0625
28.3495
3.0865
0.2
15.432
0.0353
0.4536
28.35

to get
Divide
grains
Avdp oz
Avdp lb
grams
grains
Avdp oz
Avdp lb
grams
grains
Avdp oz
Avdp lb
grams
grains
Avdp oz
Avdp lb
grams
grains
Avdp oz
grams
grains
Avdp lb
grams
grains
grams
grains
oz
kg
grams

Multiply
to get
atm
atm
atm
atm
atm
atm
bar
bar
bar
ft H2O
kPa
kPa
kPa
psi

33.9
760
1033.2
14.70
1.013
101.3
14.5
0.9869
100
0.4335
0.01
0.1450
7.5
0.0703

to get
Divide
ft H2O
mm Hg
g/cm2
psi
bar
kPa
psi
atm
kPa
psi
dyne/cm2
psi
mm Hg
kg/cm2

Miscellaneous
Multiply
to get
hp
hp
hp
hp
watts
watts
lb-ft
oz-in
oz-in
oz-in
gauss

0.746
42.44
396,000
1.014
0.7376
44.25
0.1368
0.072
70,600
0.00706
0.0001

to get
Divide
kW
Btu/min
lb in/min
metric hp
lb ft/sec
lb ft/min
kg-m
kg-cm
dyne-cm
Nm
tesla

Equations
Centrifugal Force

Flow

Relative centrifugal force

rcf = (11.18 x 10-6) RN
R = rotating radius in cm
N = rotation speed in rpm

Cv factor
C

Concentration
Molar (M) =
Moles of solute
Liters of solution
Weight % =
Grams of solute x 100%
Grams of solute + grams of solvent
Volume % =
Liters of solute x 100%
Liters of solution
ppm =
mg of solute =
mg
kg of solution
Liters of water

Q=

(G/P)

Q =
CV =
G =
P =

flow rate (GPM)

flow coefficient
specific gravity
pressure drop (psi)

Density Conversions
Specific Gravity x 1 = g/L
g/L x 8.345404 = lb/gal
lb/gal x 0.119826 = g/mL

Temperature
F = (1.8 x C) + 32
C = (F 32) x 0.555
Kelvin = C + 273.2

Length
Multiply
to get
inch
ft
ft
yard
Angstrom

2.54
12
0.305
1.094
1010

to get
Divide
cm
inch
meter
meter
meter

Flowrate
Multiply
to get
cc/min
cfm (ft3/min)
cfm (ft3/min)
cfh (ft3/hr)
cfh (ft3/hr)
GPH
GPH
GPM
GPM
oz/min

1
28.31
1.699
472
0.125
63.1
0.134
0.227
3.785
29.57

to get
Divide
mL/min
L/min
m3/hr
mL/min
GPM
mL/min
cfh
m3/hr
L/min
mL/min

Volume
Multiply
to get
cubic cm (cc)
oz (fluid)
cubic ft (ft3)
cubic ft (ft3)
gal
gal
gal
cubic meters

1
29.57
7.48
0.0283
128
3.785
0.8333
1000

to get
Divide
mL
mL
gal
m3
oz (fluid)
liters
imp gal
liters

Heating and Cooling

Cooling capacity of chillers
Btu/hr = T (F) x Specific heat of fluid
flow rate (GPM)
Specific heat of water = 500 Btu/hr/GPM/F
Specific heat of oil = 350 Btu/hr/GPM/F
Heating water in tanks
kW = Volume (gallons) x T (F)
325 x Heat-up time (hours)
Heating oil in tanks
kW = Volume (gallons) x T (F)
800 x Heat-up time (hours)
Heating flowing water
kW =
Flow (GPM) x T (F) x 0.16

Tech Tip #30 page 2

Humidity

Ohms law

Absolute humidity (as g/m3)

D=
804
x e
1 + 0.00633t
PO
= H x
804
x e
100
1 + 0.00366t
PO
H=
PO =
D=
e=
DS =

relative humidity (% RH)

standard air pressure (mm Hg)
absolute humidity (g/m3)
water steam pressure (mm Hg)
absolute humidity in saturation
(g/m3)
eS = saturated water steam pressure
(mm Hg)
t = temperature (C)
T = dew point temperature

Dew point temperature (as C)

T = 237.3/7.5 - 1
log e 0.786
e= H xe
100 S
eS = 6.1078 x 107.5t/(237.3 + t)
Relative humidity (as % RH)
RH = e x 100 = D x 100
eS
DS

Amperes

Volts
Volts =

Amperes = Volts
Ohms

Watts x Ohms

Volts = Watts
Amperes

WR E
R

W
I

Volts = Amperes x Ohms

IR

Ohms
Ohms =

E
I

Volts
Amperes

Ohms = Volts
Watts
2

W
2
I

Ohms = Watts 2
Amperes

Amperes = Watts
Volts

W
E
W
R

(VOLTS)

(AMPS)

(OHMS)

(WATTS)

EI

Amperes =

Watts
Ohms

Watts
Watts = Volts x
Amperes

E
W

I R

E
R

Watts = Amperes2 x
Ohms
2
Watts = Volts
Ohms

Electrical Diagrams
AC
SWITCH (SPST)

SWITCH (DPST)

SWITCH (SPDT)

SWITCH (DPDT)

current
loop
AC

4-20 mA

4-20 mA
control
output
control output

4-20 mA
output

AC power

Conversion Tables
Important Metric Prefixes
Prefix
teragiga-*
megakilodecicentimillimicronano-*
pico-*

Abbreviation
T
G
M
k
d
c
m

n
p

Meaning
x 1012
x 109
x 106
x 103
x 101
x 102
x 103
x 106
x 109
x 1012

*In older literature, certain double prefixes are

used: kilomega (kM) for 109; millimicro (m)
for 109; micromicro () for 1012.

Brix Scale (sucrose)

% Brix
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
30.0
35.0
40.0
45.0
50.0
55.0
60.0
65.0
70.0
75.0
80.0
85.0

RI
1.3330
1.3403
1.3479
1.3557
1.3639
1.3723
1.3811
1.3902
1.3997
1.4096
1.4200
1.4307
1.4418
1.4532
1.4651
1.4774
1.4901
1.5003

Conductivity Values /cm at 77F (25C)

% Weight

ppm
mg/l

NaCl

NaOH

HCl

Acetic
acid

0.0001
0.0003
0.001
0.003
0.01
0.03
0.1
0.3
1.0
3.0
5.0
10.0
20.0
30.0
40.0
50.0
75.0
100.0

1
3
10
30
100
300
1000
3000
10,000

2.2
6.5
21.4
64
210
617
1990
5690
17,600
48,600
78,300
140,000
226,000
Saturated
Saturated
Saturated
Saturated
Saturated

6.2
18.4
61.1
182
603
1780
5820
16,900
53,200
144,000
223,000
358,000
414,000
292,000
191,000
150,000
Saturated
Saturated

11.7
35.0
116
340
1140
3390
11,100
32,200
103,000
283,000
432,000
709,000
850,000
732,000
Saturated
Saturated
Saturated
Saturated

4.2
7.4
15.5
30.6
63
114
209
368
640
1120
1230
1530
1600
1405
1080
740
168
<1

Nominal Dimensions of Standard Sieves

Sieve
opening (mm)
0.037
0.044
0.045
0.053
0.063
0.074
0.075
0.088
0.090
0.105
0.125
0.149
0.150
0.177
0.180
0.210
0.250
0.297
0.300
0.354
0.355
0.420
0.500
0.595
0.600
0.707
0.710
0.841
1.00
1.19
1.20
1.41
1.68
2.00

USA standard
ASTM E 11-61
400
325

270
230
200

170

140
120
100

80

70
60
50

45

40
35
30

25

20
18
16

14
12
10

Mesh number
Tyler (mesh/in.)
400
325

270
250
200

170

150
115
100

80

65
60
48

42

35
32
28

24

20
16
14

12
10
9

Wire Gauge Sizes

British standard
(mesh/in.)

350
300
240

200

170
150
120

100

85
72
60

52

44
35
30

25

22

16

14

10
8

AWG
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
28
30
32
34
36
38
40

Viscosity Values
Centipoise*
(cp)
1
3.2
12.6
16.5
34.6
88
176
352
880
1561
1760
3000
5000
8640
15,200
17,640

Centistokes
(cSt)
1
4
15.7
20.6
43.2
110
220
440
1100
1735
2200
4500
6250
10,800
19,000
19,600

Saybolt Second
Universal (SSU)
31
40
80
100
200
500
1000
2000
5000
8000
10,000
20,000
28,000
50,000
86,000
90,000

Typical liquid
Water
Milk
No. 4 fuel oil
Cream
Vegetable oil
SAE 10 oil
Tomato juice
SAE 30 oil
Glycerine
SAE 50 oil
Honey
Glue
Mayonnaise
Molasses B
Sour cream
SAE 70 oil

*Centipoise = centistokes x specific gravity where specific gravity is assumed to

be 0.8 (except for water). To find the exact cp of your fluid: cp = cSt x (weight
per gallon x 0.120).

OAKTON Instruments
OAKTON Reg. TM #1,692,543

Diameter (inches)
0.1620
0.1285
0.1019
0.0808
0.0641
0.0508
0.0403
0.0338
0.0253
0.0207
0.0159
0.0126
0.0100
0.0080
0.00630
0.00500
0.00397
0.00314

Diameter (mm)
4.115
3.264
2.588
2.053
1.628
1.291
1.024
0.8118
0.6438
0.5106
0.4049
0.3211
0.2546
0.2019
0.152
0.127
0.1007
0.07987