1. What is 3 Phase Power Consumption?

The 3-phase power consumption calculation determines the energy usage (in kWh) of three-phase electrical systems, commonly used in PCs and servers in data centers or industrial settings.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the 3-phase power formula:

Where:

• \( V \) — Line-to-line voltage (volts)
• \( I \) — Current (amperes)
• \( PF \) — Power factor (unitless, 0 to 1)
• \( h \) — Operating time (hours)
• \( \sqrt{3} \) — Constant for 3-phase systems (≈1.732)

Explanation: The formula accounts for all three phases in the system and converts the result to kilowatt-hours (kWh) by dividing by 1000.

3. Importance of Power Calculation

Details: Accurate power consumption calculation helps in energy management, cost estimation, and electrical system design for PC setups and data centers.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter line-to-line voltage in volts, current in amperes, power factor (typically 0.8-1.0 for PCs), and operating time in hours. All values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a typical power factor for PCs?
A: Modern PCs typically have power factors between 0.95 and 0.99. Older systems might be lower (0.8-0.9).

Q2: How do I measure voltage and current?
A: Use a multimeter or power meter. For servers, check power supply specifications or use monitoring software.

Q3: Why use 3-phase power for PCs?
A: 3-phase is more efficient for high-power computing systems, data centers, and server racks, providing balanced power distribution.

Q4: Can I use this for single-phase systems?
A: No, for single-phase use the formula: kWh = (V × I × PF × h) / 1000 (without the √3 factor).

Q5: How accurate is this calculation?
A: It provides theoretical consumption. Actual usage may vary based on load fluctuations, efficiency losses, and environmental factors.