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Power Factor Formula:
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Power Factor measures the efficiency of AC power usage by quantifying the phase difference between voltage and current. It represents the ratio of real power (used for work) to apparent power (total power supplied).
The calculator uses the Power Factor formula:
Where:
Explanation: The power factor ranges from 0 to 1, where 1 indicates perfect efficiency (voltage and current in phase) and lower values indicate poor efficiency with reactive power consumption.
Details: Accurate power factor calculation is crucial for electrical system efficiency, reducing energy costs, preventing utility penalties, and optimizing equipment performance in industrial and commercial applications.
Tips: Enter real power in watts (W) and apparent power in volt-amperes (VA). Both values must be positive numbers greater than zero for accurate calculation.
Q1: What is a good power factor value?
A: A power factor of 0.95 or higher is generally considered good. Values below 0.85 may incur utility penalties in commercial and industrial settings.
Q2: What causes low power factor?
A: Low power factor is typically caused by inductive loads like motors, transformers, and fluorescent lighting that create phase displacement between voltage and current.
Q3: How can power factor be improved?
A: Power factor correction can be achieved by adding capacitors in parallel with inductive loads, using synchronous motors, or installing power factor correction equipment.
Q4: What's the difference between real and apparent power?
A: Real power (W) performs actual work, while apparent power (VA) is the total power supplied. The difference represents reactive power that oscillates without doing useful work.
Q5: Why do utilities charge for poor power factor?
A: Utilities charge penalties because low power factor requires them to supply more current for the same real power, increasing transmission losses and requiring larger infrastructure.