1. What is Power Factor?

Power Factor (PF) is the ratio of real power (P) flowing to the load to the apparent power (S) in the circuit. It's a dimensionless number between -1 and 1, representing how effectively electrical power is being converted into useful work output.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the basic power factor formula:

Where:

• \( P \) — Real power in Watts (W)
• \( S \) — Apparent power in Volt-Amperes (VA)
• \( PF \) — Power Factor (unitless, range 0 to 1 for most practical cases)

Explanation: Power factor indicates the phase difference between voltage and current in AC circuits. A PF of 1 means all power is real power (perfect efficiency), while lower values indicate reactive power is present.

3. Importance of Power Factor

Details: Power factor is crucial in electrical systems because:

• Low PF increases current flow for the same real power
• Utilities often charge penalties for low PF
• Affects voltage regulation and system capacity
• Important for sizing capacitors and other power correction equipment

4. Using the Calculator

Tips:

• Enter real power (P) in Watts (W)
• Enter apparent power (S) in Volt-Amperes (VA)
• Both values must be positive numbers
• The calculator will automatically limit results to the valid range (0-1)

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a good power factor value?
A: Typically, 0.95 or higher is considered good. Many utilities require industrial customers to maintain at least 0.9.

Q2: Can power factor be greater than 1?
A: In normal conditions, no. Values above 1 usually indicate measurement errors or special cases with harmonic distortion.

Q3: What causes low power factor?
A: Inductive loads (motors, transformers) and non-linear loads (electronics) are common causes. The more out of phase current is with voltage, the lower the PF.

Q4: How can power factor be improved?
A: Adding capacitors (for inductive loads), using synchronous motors, or installing active power factor correction circuits.

Q5: What's the difference between leading and lagging power factor?
A: Lagging PF (most common) means current lags voltage (inductive load). Leading PF means current leads voltage (capacitive load).