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Electrical Power Formula:
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The electrical power calculation formula (P = V × I × PF) calculates the real power in AC electrical circuits. It accounts for voltage, current, and power factor to determine the actual power consumed or delivered in a circuit.
The calculator uses the electrical power formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates real power in AC circuits by multiplying voltage, current, and power factor. The power factor accounts for the phase difference between voltage and current waveforms.
Details: Accurate power calculation is essential for electrical system design, energy consumption analysis, circuit protection sizing, and electrical equipment selection. It helps determine the actual power requirements and efficiency of electrical systems.
Tips: Enter voltage in volts, current in amperes, and power factor as a decimal between 0 and 1. All values must be valid (voltage > 0, current > 0, power factor between 0-1).
Q1: What is power factor and why is it important?
A: Power factor represents the ratio of real power to apparent power. It indicates how effectively electrical power is being used, with values closer to 1 being more efficient.
Q2: What is the difference between real power and apparent power?
A: Real power (P) is the actual power consumed, measured in watts. Apparent power (S = V × I) is the product of voltage and current, measured in volt-amperes.
Q3: When is power factor equal to 1?
A: Power factor equals 1 in purely resistive circuits where voltage and current are in phase. This represents perfect power transfer efficiency.
Q4: What causes low power factor?
A: Low power factor is typically caused by inductive loads like motors, transformers, and fluorescent lighting that create phase differences between voltage and current.
Q5: How can power factor be improved?
A: Power factor can be improved by adding power factor correction capacitors, using synchronous motors, or optimizing motor loads to reduce reactive power consumption.