1. What is 3-Phase kWh Calculation?

The 3-phase kWh calculation determines the energy consumption in three-phase electrical systems, which are commonly used in industrial and commercial applications. It accounts for the balanced three-phase power delivery.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the 3-phase energy formula:

Where:

• \( V \) — Line-to-line voltage (volts)
• \( I \) — Current (amperes)
• \( PF \) — Power factor (unitless, 0 to 1)
• \( h \) — Time duration (hours)
• \( \sqrt{3} \) — Constant for balanced 3-phase systems

Explanation: The formula calculates real power consumption by accounting for all three phases and the power factor.

3. Importance of 3-Phase Power Calculation

Details: Accurate energy calculation is crucial for electrical system design, energy monitoring, billing, and efficiency analysis in three-phase systems.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter line-to-line voltage in volts, current in amperes, power factor (typically 0.8-1.0), and duration in hours. All values must be positive.

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., 400V line-to-line = 230V line-to-neutral).

Q2: Why is power factor important?
A: Power factor represents the ratio of real power to apparent power. Lower PF means more current is needed for the same real power.

Q3: What's a typical power factor value?
A: Motors typically have 0.8-0.9 PF. Resistive loads have 1.0 PF. Capacitors can improve PF.

Q4: Can this be used for unbalanced loads?
A: This calculator assumes balanced 3-phase. For unbalanced loads, calculate each phase separately and sum the results.

Q5: How does this differ from single-phase calculation?
A: Single-phase uses V×I×PF×h/1000 without the √3 factor.