Home
Back
Power Factor Formula:
| From: | To: |
Power Factor is the ratio of real power (measured in watts) to apparent power (measured in volt-amperes) in an AC electrical system. It represents the efficiency with which electrical power is converted into useful work output.
The calculator uses the power factor formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates the power factor by dividing the real power consumed by the product of voltage and current, which gives the apparent power.
Details: Power factor is crucial in electrical systems for determining energy efficiency, reducing electricity costs, optimizing equipment performance, and avoiding penalties from utility companies for low power factor.
Tips: Enter real power in watts, voltage in volts, and current in amps. All values must be positive numbers greater than zero for accurate calculation.
Q1: What is a good power factor value?
A: A power factor of 1.0 is ideal, but values above 0.95 are generally considered good. Values below 0.85 may incur penalties from utility providers.
Q2: What causes low power factor?
A: Low power factor is typically caused by inductive loads like motors, transformers, and fluorescent lighting that create reactive power.
Q3: How can power factor be improved?
A: Power factor can be improved by adding power factor correction capacitors, using synchronous condensers, or optimizing motor loads.
Q4: What's the difference between real power and apparent power?
A: Real power (watts) performs actual work, while apparent power (VA) is the product of voltage and current. The ratio between them is the power factor.
Q5: Does power factor affect electricity bills?
A: Yes, many industrial and commercial electricity tariffs include power factor penalties or demand charges based on low power factor.