Inch-Ounce to Megawatt Hour

RC servo motors are rated by torque in inch-ounces (or oz·in) because the forces involved are tiny. A standard micro servo produces 40–60 in·oz, which is enough to deflect a model aircraft aileron. High-torque digital servos for 1/10-scale RC cars reach 200–400 in·oz. The inch-ounce scale gives hobbyists whole-number specs that are easy to compare.

Servo motors produce more torque at higher voltage because the motor windings draw more current and generate a stronger magnetic field. A servo rated at 60 in·oz at 4.8 V might deliver 75 in·oz at 6 V — a 25% boost. RC pilots choose voltage based on the tradeoff: 6 V gives snappier response and more holding torque for aerobatics, but draws more current and generates more heat, reducing servo lifespan. Competition flyers often run 7.4 V for maximum performance, accepting shorter gear life.

Inch-ounces give convenient whole numbers for very small torques where newton-meters would be awkward decimals (e.g., 50 in·oz ≈ 0.353 N·m). The RC hobby, miniature clockwork, and precision instrument industries in the US developed around imperial units, and the convention persists even as SI gains ground. Many datasheets now list both units side by side.

A mechanical wristwatch mainspring delivers roughly 2–5 in·oz of torque. Larger mantel clocks may have mainspring torques of 10–30 in·oz. Escapement adjustments are even finer, sometimes below 1 in·oz. Horologists use inch-ounces (or gram-centimeters) because these scales match the delicate forces in timekeeping mechanisms.

A servo's inch-ounce rating tells you the maximum force it can exert at one inch from the output shaft. A 100 in·oz servo can hold 100 ounces (6.25 lb) at 1 inch, or 50 ounces at 2 inches. Robotics designers use this to size servos for joint loads — a small robotic arm lifting 1 lb at 4 inches needs at least 64 in·oz, plus a safety margin of 50% or more.

MWh is the natural unit for grid-scale transactions because power plants and large industrial loads operate in the megawatt range. Quoting in kWh would produce unwieldy numbers — a 1 GW nuclear plant generates 24,000 MWh/day, not 24,000,000 kWh. Spot markets like the US PJM or European EPEX quote prices in $/MWh or €/MWh, typically $20–$80/MWh in normal conditions.

One MWh powers the average US home for about 1.1 months (since the average is 886 kWh/month). In Europe, where consumption is lower (~300 kWh/month), one MWh can cover about 3.3 months. A single MWh is also enough energy to drive an electric car about 5,000–6,000 km, or to run an industrial air compressor for roughly 4 hours.

US wholesale prices typically range from $20 to $80/MWh depending on region, time of day, and fuel costs. European prices are generally higher at €50–€150/MWh. During extreme events — heat waves, supply shortages — prices can spike above $1,000/MWh for brief periods. Negative prices (below $0/MWh) also occur when wind or solar oversupply the grid.

A modern onshore 3 MW turbine at 35% capacity factor produces about 9,200 MWh/year. A large offshore 15 MW turbine at 50% capacity factor generates roughly 65,700 MWh/year. Capacity factor — the percentage of theoretical maximum output actually achieved — varies with wind resource, turbine technology, and maintenance downtime.

Current lithium-ion battery costs (~$150–250/kWh) make 4-hour systems economical for peak shaving and solar time-shifting, but 24-hour storage would cost 6× more with diminishing returns. Grids instead layer solutions: batteries handle the evening peak (4 h), gas turbines cover overnight baseload, and pumped hydro or compressed air provide longer-duration backup. Iron-air and flow batteries are emerging for 100+ hour storage at lower cost per kWh, potentially closing the gap by the 2030s.