1. What is 3-Phase kWh Calculation?

The 3-phase kWh calculation determines the energy consumption in three-phase electrical systems. It accounts for the balanced load across three conductors and is commonly used in industrial and commercial power systems.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the 3-phase power formula:

Where:

• \( V \) — Line-to-line voltage (volts)
• \( I \) — Current (amperes)
• \( PF \) — Power factor (0 to 1)
• \( h \) — Time in hours
• \( \sqrt{3} \) — Constant for 3-phase systems (≈1.732)

Explanation: The formula calculates real power consumption by accounting for all three phases and the power factor (ratio of real power to apparent power).

3. Importance of 3-Phase Power Calculation

Details: Accurate 3-phase power calculation is essential for energy monitoring, billing, equipment sizing, and electrical system design in industrial and commercial settings.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter line-to-line voltage in volts, current in amperes, power factor (typically 0.8-0.95 for motors), and operating time in hours. All values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between 3-phase and single-phase kWh?
A: 3-phase systems use √3 factor and sum power across all three phases, while single-phase uses simple V×I×PF calculation.

Q2: How do I measure line-to-line voltage?
A: Use a multimeter between any two phase conductors in a 3-phase system (typically 208V, 380V, 400V, or 480V).

Q3: What if power factor is unknown?
A: For resistive loads (heaters, incandescent lights) use 1.0. For motors, typical values are 0.8-0.95.

Q4: Does this work for unbalanced loads?
A: This calculator assumes balanced load. For unbalanced loads, calculate each phase separately and sum the results.

Q5: Why divide by 1000?
A: To convert watts to kilowatts (1 kW = 1000 W) for standard kWh measurement.