1. What is the 3-Phase Power Formula?

The 3-phase power formula calculates real power (watts) in a balanced 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 being effectively used, while lower values indicate inefficiencies in the system.

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 equipment). 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 voltage is √3 times the line-to-neutral voltage (e.g., 208V vs 120V).

Q2: Why is power factor important?
A: Low power factor means you're paying for energy that isn't doing useful work, and may incur utility penalties.

Q3: What's a typical power factor value?
A: Motors typically have 0.8-0.9 PF, resistive loads have 1.0, and capacitive/inductive loads have lower values.

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

Q5: How does this relate to kVA?
A: Apparent power (kVA) = √3 × V × I, while real power (kW) = √3 × V × I × PF.