1. What is Power Factor?

Power factor (PF) is the ratio of real power flowing to the load to the apparent power in the circuit in an AC electrical system. It's a dimensionless number between -1 and 1, though typically between 0 and 1 for most practical applications.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the 3-phase power factor formula:

Where:

• \( P \) — Real power in watts (W)
• \( V \) — Line-to-line voltage in volts (V)
• \( I \) — Current in amperes (A)
• \( \sqrt{3} \) — Constant for 3-phase systems (≈1.732)

Explanation: The formula calculates how effectively electrical power is being used in a 3-phase system by comparing the actual power (doing work) to the apparent power (product of voltage and current).

3. Importance of Power Factor

Details: Power factor is crucial in electrical systems because:

• Low power factor increases current for the same real power
• Utilities often charge penalties for low power factor
• Higher power factor means more efficient power usage
• Affects sizing of electrical equipment like transformers and cables

4. Using the Calculator

Tips:

• Enter real power in watts (not kVA or VAR)
• Use line-to-line voltage (not phase voltage)
• Current should be measured per phase
• All values must be positive numbers

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a good power factor value?
A: Typically 0.95 or higher is considered good. Below 0.85 is usually considered poor and may incur penalties.

Q2: Can power factor be greater than 1?
A: Normally no, but measurement errors or incorrect assumptions can sometimes show values >1. The calculator caps at 1.0.

Q3: How can I improve power factor?
A: Common methods include adding power factor correction capacitors, using synchronous condensers, or reducing reactive loads.

Q4: What's the difference between leading and lagging power factor?
A: Lagging PF (most common) means current lags voltage (inductive loads). Leading PF means current leads voltage (capacitive loads).

Q5: Why is √3 used in 3-phase calculations?
A: It's the mathematical relationship between line-to-line and phase voltages in a balanced 3-phase system.