1. What is 3-Phase Power?

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

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the 3-phase power formula:

Where:

• \( P \) — Power in watts (W)
• \( V \) — Line-to-line voltage in volts (V)
• \( I \) — Current in amperes (A)
• \( PF \) — Power factor (unitless, 0 to 1)
• \( \sqrt{3} \) — Constant for 3-phase systems (≈1.732)

Explanation: The formula calculates real power in a balanced 3-phase system, accounting for the phase difference between voltage and current through the power factor.

3. Importance of Power Factor

Details: Power factor represents the ratio of real power to apparent power. A PF of 1 means all power is real (useful) power, while lower PF indicates reactive power that doesn't do useful work but increases system losses.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter line-to-line voltage in volts, current in amperes, and power factor (0 to 1). Typical power factors are 0.8-0.95 for industrial loads. All values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between line-to-line and line-to-neutral voltage?
A: In 3-phase systems, line-to-line voltage is √3 times the line-to-neutral voltage (e.g., 208V line-to-line is 120V line-to-neutral).

Q2: Why is √3 used in the formula?
A: √3 accounts for the 120° phase difference between the three phases in a balanced system.

Q3: What's a typical power factor value?
A: Motors typically have 0.8-0.9 PF, resistive loads have 1.0 PF, and heavily inductive loads can have lower PF (0.5-0.7).

Q4: How can power factor be improved?
A: Power factor correction capacitors can be added to offset inductive reactance and improve PF.

Q5: Does this formula work for unbalanced loads?
A: No, this formula assumes a balanced 3-phase system. Unbalanced loads require more complex calculations.