1. What is 3 Phase Power Calculation?

The 3-phase power calculation determines the real power in a three-phase electrical system. It accounts for the voltage, current, and power factor in a balanced three-phase circuit.

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 three-phase systems (≈1.732)

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

3. Importance of Power Calculation

Details: Accurate power calculation is essential for sizing electrical equipment, determining energy consumption, calculating efficiency, and designing electrical systems.

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 is power factor?
A: Power factor is the ratio of real power to apparent power, representing how effectively current is being converted into useful work.

Q2: What's the difference between line-to-line and line-to-neutral voltage?
A: In 3-phase systems, line-to-line voltage is between two phases, while line-to-neutral is between one phase and neutral. Line-to-line is √3 times line-to-neutral.

Q3: When is this formula valid?
A: This formula works for balanced three-phase systems with sinusoidal waveforms. Unbalanced systems require more complex calculations.

Q4: How does power factor affect the calculation?
A: Lower power factor means more current is required to deliver the same real power, increasing losses in the system.

Q5: Can this be used for DC systems?
A: No, DC power is simply P = V × I. The √3 factor and power factor are specific to AC systems.