1. What is Electrical Power?

Electrical power is the rate at which electrical energy is transferred by an electric circuit. The SI unit of power is the watt (W), which is equal to one joule per second. Power is a fundamental concept in electrical engineering and physics.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the basic power formula:

Where:

• \( P \) — Power in watts (W)
• \( V \) — Voltage in volts (V)
• \( I \) — Current in amperes (A)

Explanation: This formula shows that power is directly proportional to both voltage and current. Doubling either voltage or current will double the power.

3. Importance of Power Calculation

Details: Calculating power is essential for designing electrical circuits, selecting appropriate wiring and components, determining energy consumption, and ensuring electrical safety.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter voltage in volts and current in amps. Both values must be positive numbers. The calculator will compute the power in watts.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between watts and volt-amps?
A: For DC circuits or purely resistive AC loads, watts and volt-amps are equal. For reactive loads, apparent power (VA) may be greater than real power (watts) due to power factor.

Q2: How does this relate to energy consumption?
A: Energy is power multiplied by time. For example, a 100W device running for 10 hours consumes 1000 watt-hours (1 kWh) of energy.

Q3: Can I calculate current if I know power and voltage?
A: Yes, using I = P/V. Similarly, V = P/I can calculate voltage when power and current are known.

Q4: What's the maximum power a circuit can handle?
A: This depends on the circuit's voltage and the current rating of its components (wires, breakers, etc.). Exceeding these can cause overheating or fire.

Q5: How does this apply to three-phase power systems?
A: For balanced three-phase systems, power is P = √3 × V × I × PF, where PF is power factor (typically 0.8-1.0).