MkW

mKW is a rarely used non-standard abbreviation that some people have employed to denote milli-kilowatt. It is not part of the International System of Units (SI), and the practice of combining the milli- and kilo- prefixes is generally discouraged because it can create ambiguity. In formal documents, power is typically expressed in watts (W), kilowatts (kW), or megawatts (MW).

If mKW is encountered, it would represent 0.001 kilowatts, which equals 1 watt. Consequently, 7 mKW equals 7 W, and 1000 mKW equals 1 kW. The dual-prefix approach highlights the potential for confusion with other closely related units such as milliwatts (mW) and megawatts (MW).

Usage and caution: The term may appear in older texts, informal notes, or misprints, but it is uncommon in modern engineering practice. To avoid misinterpretation, engineers and scientists typically use W, kW, or MW depending on scale, and they prefer explicit expressions rather than mixed prefixes.

In summary, mKW is not a standard unit in contemporary technical usage. When reporting power, it is clearer to use watts or kilowatts, avoiding nonstandard prefixes that can lead to confusion.

See also: Watt, Kilowatt, Megawatt, Power.