How to Convert the Wattage for a Rowing Ergometer

Several types of unit are used to measure the amount of energy you are expending in exercise. Wattage is one measure frequently used on rowing and cycling ergometers. Wattage is affected by the power of your strokes and the number of strokes per minute. If you are interested in general fitness, convert watts to kilocalories to compare ergometers to other forms of exercise. If you are training for outdoor rowing, the important statistic is pace, given in seconds per meter.

Things You'll Need

  • calculator or Internet access
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Instructions

  1. Watts to kilocalories

    • 1

      Kilocalories, popularly -- and confusingly -- referred to as calories, are the units used to measure the energy content of food. If you want to figure out how much work you need to do on a rowing ergometer to burn off a doughnut, you'll want to convert watts to kilocalories per minute or per hour.

      Watts to kilocalories/minute: multiply the number of watts by 0.01434

      Watts to kilocalories/hour: multiply the number of watts by .86042

      To convert from kilocalories to watts:

      Multiply kilocalories/minute by 69.78

      Multiply kilocalories/hour by 1.163

    • 2

      If your ergometer does not ask you to input your weight, the energy used is calculated for a person of one specific weight, such as 150 or 175 pounds. You should visit the manufacturer's website to determine how to adjust for the difference between your weight and the default weight.

    • 3

      The readouts on exercise machines should be used only as general guidelines. Actual caloric expenditures may vary by 25% to 30% in either direction. Variations can be due to your weight, body fat percentage, general fitness and skill or efficiency at a specific activity, as well as the inherent level of accuracy of the machine.

    Pace to Watts

    • 4

      The formula to convert pace in seconds/meter to watts is:

      watts = 2.80/pace³

    • 5

      Multiply your pace by itself two times to find its cube, i.e., calculate

      pace³ = pace * pace * pace

    • 6

      Divide 2.80 by pace³ to calculate watts.

    Watts to pace

    • 7

      The formula to convert watts to pace in seconds per meter is:

      pace = ³√(2.80/watts)

      where the symbol ³√ stands for cube root. If the number a is the cube root of A, that means that

      A = a * a * a

    • 8

      Divide 2.80 by the number of watts.

    • 9

      Take the cube root of (2.80/watts) to determine pace in seconds per meter. If your calculator does not have a cube root function, use an online cube root calculator.