1. What is Three Phase Power?

Three-phase power is a common method of alternating current electric power generation, transmission, and distribution. It is more efficient than single-phase power for large industrial applications.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the three-phase power formula:

Where:

• \( P \) — Power in watts (W)
• \( V \) — Line-to-line voltage (V)
• \( I \) — Current in amperes (A)
• \( PF \) — Power factor (unitless, between 0 and 1)

Explanation: The formula accounts for the phase relationship in three-phase systems, with the √3 factor (approximately 1.732) converting between line-to-line and phase quantities.

3. Importance of Power Calculation

Details: Accurate power calculation is essential for sizing electrical equipment, determining energy consumption, designing electrical systems, and ensuring safe operation of machinery.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips:

• Enter line-to-line voltage (not phase voltage)
• Current should be the line current
• Power factor should be between 0 and 1 (typical values are 0.8-0.95 for industrial loads)

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between line-to-line and phase voltage?
A: In three-phase systems, line-to-line voltage is between any two phases, while phase voltage is between a phase and neutral. For balanced systems, line voltage = √3 × phase voltage.

Q2: 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.

Q3: Can this formula be used for single-phase systems?
A: No, for single-phase systems use P = V × I × PF (without the √3 factor).

Q4: What are typical power factor values?
A: Resistive loads have PF=1, motors typically 0.8-0.9, and heavily inductive loads can be 0.5 or lower.

Q5: How does this relate to kVA and kW?
A: kW is real power (what this calculator shows), kVA is apparent power (V × I × √3 without PF). kW = kVA × PF.