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Single Phase Power Formula:
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Single phase power refers to a two-wire alternating current (AC) power circuit where the power voltage changes simultaneously. It is commonly used in residential and light commercial applications for powering smaller loads.
The calculator uses the single phase power formula:
Where:
Explanation: This formula calculates the real power in a single-phase AC circuit, taking into account the power factor which represents the phase difference between voltage and current.
Details: Accurate power calculation is essential for electrical system design, load analysis, circuit protection sizing, energy consumption estimation, and electrical safety compliance.
Tips: Enter voltage in volts, current in amperes, and power factor as a decimal between 0 and 1. All values must be positive, with power factor between 0 and 1 inclusive.
Q1: What is power factor and why is it important?
A: Power factor is the ratio of real power to apparent power. It indicates how effectively electrical power is being used, with 1.0 being ideal.
Q2: What are typical power factor values?
A: Residential loads typically have power factors between 0.8-0.95, while industrial motors may have lower power factors around 0.7-0.85.
Q3: When should I use this calculator?
A: Use for single-phase AC circuits commonly found in homes, small businesses, and light industrial applications.
Q4: What's the difference between single-phase and three-phase power?
A: Single-phase uses two wires (hot and neutral) while three-phase uses three or four wires, providing more power delivery capacity and smoother operation.
Q5: Can this calculator be used for DC circuits?
A: For DC circuits, omit the power factor (set to 1) since there is no phase difference between voltage and current in DC systems.