1. What is the Single Phase kW Formula?

The single-phase kilowatt (kW) formula calculates real power in an AC electrical system. It accounts for voltage, current, and power factor, providing the actual power being consumed or produced.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the single-phase power formula:

Where:

• \( V \) — Voltage (Volts)
• \( I \) — Current (Amperes)
• \( PF \) — Power Factor (unitless, 0 to 1)
• 1000 — Conversion factor from watts to kilowatts

Explanation: The formula calculates real power by multiplying voltage and current, then adjusting for power factor (the ratio of real power to apparent power).

3. Importance of Power Factor

Details: Power factor represents the efficiency of power usage in an AC circuit. A PF of 1 indicates all power is being used effectively, while lower values indicate reactive power losses.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter voltage in volts, current in amperes, and power factor (between 0 and 1). For purely resistive loads, power factor is 1. For inductive or capacitive loads, it will be less than 1.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between kW and kVA?
A: kW measures real power, while kVA measures apparent power. The ratio between them is the power factor (kW = kVA × PF).

Q2: What is a typical power factor value?
A: Residential homes typically have PF around 0.95-1. Industrial motors might have PF as low as 0.7-0.8 without correction.

Q3: Why divide by 1000 in the formula?
A: The division converts watts to kilowatts (1 kW = 1000 W), making the result more practical for most electrical power measurements.

Q4: Can this formula be used for DC circuits?
A: Yes, for DC circuits just set PF=1 (DC has no reactive power component).

Q5: How does this differ from three-phase power calculation?
A: Three-phase power adds a √3 factor to account for phase relationships: kW = (V × I × PF × √3)/1000.