BHP vs. HP

[TheRedBlur]

what's the difference, I know BHP stands for Brake Horsepower, but I don't get what that means. BHP is used in reference to engine power, not the brakes themselves. there, that's all I know, can anybody fill me in on the rest?

 

[luckythirteen13]

usually you hear fwhp-fly wheel horse power and rwhp-rear wheel horse power. fwhp is the hp that the motor makes at the crank. rwhp is the hp that actually makes it to the wheels. there is a difference because the drive train (trans, diff, axles,etc) steal hp through heat and friction so the rwhp is always less then fwhp

 

[big blue]

BHP was a European equivilant of HP. Both are extremely similar. The Brits use it all the time when listing a cars FWHP. They use a slightly different calulation than our SAE standards to measure a cars FWHP. I have found that it ranges in difference sometimes as little as 2-5 HP up to 15 hp. I take it for equal to our HP rating. Give or take.

 

[88-GT]

Yea its just in the way that it is measured. Its a rating for amount of work based on the torque. 1 HP = 33000 ft-lbs/min. All horsepower is is a value calculated from torque with rpm thrown in.

 

[TheRedBlur]

so BHP is like british horsepower?
sort of like how BTU is british thermal unit?

 

[88convert]

Brake HP, as far as I know, is used in reference to electric motors. Electric motors have a name plate amprage i.e. 100 amps and also a service factor i.e. 1.15.- 2.0. Take the service factor times the rated amprage and that gives you the maximum current draw.

So in effect a 100 hp motor is capable of 115 hp MAX.

Brake hp is the difference between rated hp and the actual hp being used. Does that help?

 

[klapdout]

has nothing to do with british ratings its power at the driveshaft/hubs/wheels

heres definiton
brake horsepower
n. Abbr. bhp or b.hp.

The actual or useful horsepower of an engine, usually determined from the force exerted on a friction brake or dynamometer connected to the drive shaft.

 

[TheRedBlur]

ahhh, gotcha