1. What is 3-Phase Power Calculation?

The 3-phase power calculation determines the real power (watts) in a three-phase electrical system. It accounts for the phase relationship between voltage and current through the power factor.

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.

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 that doesn't do useful work but still requires current.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter line-to-line voltage in volts, current in amps, and power factor (typically 0.8-0.95 for industrial loads). All values must be valid (voltage > 0, current > 0, PF between 0-1).

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 is between any two phases (higher), while line-to-neutral is between phase and neutral. The calculator uses line-to-line voltage.

Q2: Why is √3 used in the formula?
A: The √3 factor accounts for the 120° phase difference between the three phases in a balanced system.

Q3: What's a typical power factor value?
A: Resistive loads have PF=1, motors typically 0.8-0.9, and heavily inductive loads can be 0.5 or lower.

Q4: How does this differ from single-phase power calculation?
A: Single-phase uses P=V×I×PF without the √3 factor, as there's no phase relationship to consider.

Q5: Can I use this for DC systems?
A: No, DC power is simply P=V×I as there's no phase angle or power factor to consider.