1. What is Three Phase Power Calculation?

The three-phase power calculation is used to determine the real power (in kilowatts) delivered by a three-phase electrical system, such as those commonly used in solar panel installations and industrial applications.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the three-phase power formula:

Where:

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

Explanation: The formula accounts for the phase relationship in three-phase systems and converts the result to kilowatts by dividing by 1000.

3. Importance of Power Calculation

Details: Accurate power calculation is essential for sizing solar panel systems, determining inverter requirements, and ensuring proper electrical system design.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter line-to-line voltage in volts, current in amperes, and power factor (typically 0.8 to 1.0 for solar systems). All values must be valid (voltage > 0, current > 0, power factor between 0-1).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is power factor in solar systems?
A: Power factor represents the ratio of real power to apparent power. For solar systems, it's typically close to 1.0 (unity) when exporting power to the grid.

Q2: Why use line-to-line voltage?
A: Three-phase systems are typically specified using line-to-line voltage, which is the voltage between any two phases.

Q3: How does this differ from single-phase calculation?
A: Single-phase systems don't use the √3 factor and use line-to-neutral voltage instead of line-to-line voltage.

Q4: What's typical voltage for commercial solar?
A: Common three-phase voltages include 208V, 240V, 400V, 480V, and 600V, depending on the region and system size.

Q5: How accurate is this for solar panel sizing?
A: This gives the AC output power. For complete sizing, you'd also need to consider panel DC rating, inverter efficiency, and environmental factors.