1. What is the Watt Formula?

The Watt formula calculates electrical power in a circuit. It relates power (P) to voltage (V), current (I), and power factor (PF). This formula is fundamental in electrical engineering and power systems analysis.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Watt formula:

Where:

• \( P \) — Power in watts (W)
• \( V \) — Voltage in volts (V)
• \( I \) — Current in amperes (A)
• \( PF \) — Power factor (unitless, between 0 and 1)

Explanation: The formula shows that power is the product of voltage and current, adjusted by the power factor which accounts for phase differences in AC circuits.

3. Importance of Power Calculation

Details: Accurate power calculation is essential for circuit design, energy consumption estimation, electrical system sizing, and determining efficiency of electrical devices.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter voltage in volts, current in amperes, and power factor (1 for DC circuits or resistive AC loads). All values must be valid (V > 0, I > 0, 0 ≤ PF ≤ 1).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is power factor?
A: Power factor is the ratio of real power to apparent power in AC circuits, representing how effectively current is converted to useful work.

Q2: When is power factor equal to 1?
A: In DC circuits or purely resistive AC circuits where voltage and current are in phase.

Q3: What are typical power factor values?
A: Industrial loads typically range from 0.7 to 0.9. Incandescent lights have PF=1, while motors may have PF=0.8.

Q4: How does this relate to energy consumption?
A: Power (watts) multiplied by time (hours) gives energy (watt-hours), the basis for electricity billing.

Q5: What about three-phase power?
A: Three-phase power uses a different formula: \( P = \sqrt{3} \times V \times I \times PF \).