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Single-Phase AC Power Formula:
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Single-phase AC power is the electrical power in alternating current systems commonly used in residential and light commercial applications. It involves a single sinusoidal voltage waveform and is characterized by voltage, current, and power factor.
The calculator uses the single-phase AC power formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates the real power consumed in an AC circuit, taking into account the phase difference between voltage and current through the power factor.
Details: Power factor represents the efficiency of power usage in AC systems. A power factor of 1 indicates perfect efficiency, while lower values indicate reactive power consumption and reduced efficiency.
Tips: Enter voltage in volts, current in amps, 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 the difference between real power and apparent power?
A: Real power (P) is the actual power consumed and measured in watts, while apparent power (S) is the product of voltage and current measured in volt-amperes (VA).
Q2: Why is power factor important in electrical systems?
A: Low power factor increases current draw for the same real power, leading to higher energy losses, larger conductor sizes, and potential utility penalties.
Q3: What causes low power factor?
A: Inductive loads like motors, transformers, and fluorescent lighting cause current to lag voltage, resulting in lower power factor.
Q4: How can power factor be improved?
A: Power factor correction capacitors can be added to counteract inductive reactance and bring power factor closer to 1.
Q5: When is this formula applicable?
A: This formula applies to single-phase AC systems with sinusoidal waveforms, typically found in residential and light commercial applications.