1. What is kVA?

kVA (kilovolt-amperes) is a unit of apparent power in an electrical circuit, representing the total power (real power + reactive power). It's used to rate electrical equipment like transformers and generators.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( W \) — Real power in watts
• \( PF \) — Power factor (unitless, between 0 and 1)
• 1000 — Conversion factor from watts to kilowatts

Explanation: The formula converts real power (watts) to apparent power (kVA) by accounting for the power factor, which represents the phase difference between voltage and current.

3. Importance of Power Factor

Details: Power factor indicates how effectively electrical power is being used. A lower power factor means more apparent power is required to deliver the same real power, which can increase energy costs.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter real power in watts and power factor (typically between 0.8 and 1 for most equipment). For purely resistive loads (like heaters), power factor is 1.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between kW and kVA?
A: kW measures real power (actual work done), while kVA measures apparent power (total power in the circuit). They're equal when power factor is 1.

Q2: Why convert watts to kVA?
A: Electrical equipment is often rated in kVA because it must handle the total apparent power, not just the real power component.

Q3: What's a typical power factor value?
A: For motors, typically 0.8-0.9. For computers/SMPS, about 0.6-0.7. Pure resistive loads have PF=1.

Q4: Can power factor be greater than 1?
A: No, power factor ranges from 0 to 1. Values outside this range indicate measurement errors.

Q5: How can I improve power factor?
A: Using power factor correction capacitors, synchronous condensers, or avoiding lightly loaded motors can improve PF.