1. What is 3-Phase Power Calculation?

The 3-phase power calculation determines the real power (in watts) in a three-phase electrical system. It accounts for voltage, current, and power factor to provide accurate power measurement in balanced three-phase systems.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the 3-phase power formula:

Where:

• \( P \) — Real power in watts (W)
• \( V \) — Line-to-line voltage in volts (V)
• \( I \) — Current in amperes (A)
• \( PF \) — Power factor (unitless, 0 to 1)
• \( \sqrt{3} \) — Constant for 3-phase systems (≈1.732)

Explanation: The formula calculates the actual power being used in the system, accounting for the phase difference between voltage and current through the power factor.

3. Importance of Power Factor

Details: Power factor represents the ratio of real power to apparent power. A PF of 1 means all power is real (useful) power, while lower PF indicates reactive power is present, which increases system losses.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter line-to-line voltage in volts, current in amperes, and power factor (between 0 and 1). All values must be positive numbers with power factor between 0 and 1.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between line-to-line and line-to-neutral voltage?
A: In 3-phase systems, line-to-line voltage is between any two phases, while line-to-neutral is between one phase and neutral. The calculator uses line-to-line voltage.

Q2: How does power factor affect the calculation?
A: Lower power factor means more current is needed to deliver the same real power, increasing system losses and required conductor size.

Q3: When is this calculation most accurate?
A: For balanced three-phase systems with sinusoidal waveforms. Unbalanced or non-linear loads require more complex calculations.

Q4: What's a typical power factor value?
A: Motors typically have 0.8-0.9 PF, resistive loads have 1.0 PF, and heavily inductive loads can have 0.5 PF or lower.

Q5: Can I use this for single-phase calculations?
A: No, single-phase power is calculated as P = V × I × PF (without the √3 factor).