What do the various horsepower numbers really mean?
Continuous Duty Horsepower is the established standard that has been used in the electric motor industry for several decades. It is a measure of the amount of work that a given motor can do over the entire life of that motor. Market Horsepower is a recent term used by some manufacturers to make their pump and motor assemblies appear more powerful. For example, a pump with a 2 horsepower (HP) “continuous duty” rating could also be labeled at 3.6 HP “market horsepower.” Maximum Duty Horsepower (also called “brake horsepower”) describes the maximum output of a given pump and motor combination. This output shows the amount of power generated at the point at which the motor breaks down. For example, a pump and motor with a 2 HP “continuous duty” rating could also be labeled at 3.7 HP “maximum duty.” TIP: When comparing two different brands of hot tubs and it is not clear which horsepower measure is being used, it is wise to compare the power consumption (amperage) of each brand’s motors. Be
Continuous Duty Horsepower is the established standard that has been used in the electric motor industry for several decades. It is a measure of the amount of work that a given motor can do over the entire life of that motor. Market Horsepower is a recent term used by some manufacturers to make their pump and motor assemblies appear more powerful. For example, a pump with a 2 horsepower (HP) “continuous duty” rating could also be labeled at 3.6 HP “market horsepower.” Maximum Duty Horsepower (also called “brake horsepower”) describes the maximum output of a given pump and motor combination. This output shows the amount of power generated at the point at which the motor breaks down. For example, a pump and motor with a 2 HP “continuous duty” rating could also be labeled at 3.7 HP “maximum duty.” TIP: When comparing two different brands of hot tubs and it is not clear which horsepower measure is being used, it is wise to compare the power consumption (amperage) of each brand’s motors. Be
