1. What is the Electrical Power Equation?

The electrical power equation (P = V × I × PF) calculates the real power in an AC circuit by multiplying voltage (V), current (I), and power factor (PF). It provides the actual power consumed by the load in watts.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the electrical power equation:

Where:

• \( P \) — Real power (watts)
• \( V \) — Voltage (volts)
• \( I \) — Current (amps)
• \( PF \) — Power factor (dimensionless, 0 to 1)

Explanation: The equation accounts for both the magnitude of voltage and current, as well as the phase relationship between them through the power factor.

3. Importance of Power Calculation

Details: Accurate power calculation is crucial for circuit design, load balancing, energy consumption estimation, and proper sizing of electrical components.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter voltage in volts, current in amps, and power factor (between 0 and 1). For purely resistive loads, power factor is 1. All values must be valid (voltage > 0, current > 0, 0 ≤ PF ≤ 1).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is power factor?
A: Power factor is the ratio of real power to apparent power, representing how effectively current is being converted into useful work.

Q2: What are typical power factor values?
A: Resistive loads have PF=1, motors typically 0.8-0.9, and highly inductive loads can be 0.5 or lower.

Q3: When should I account for power factor?
A: Always for AC circuits, especially with inductive or capacitive loads. For DC circuits, PF is always 1.

Q4: How does this differ from apparent power?
A: Apparent power (VA) is V×I without PF, while real power (watts) includes PF to show actual work being done.

Q5: Can this be used for three-phase systems?
A: For balanced three-phase systems, multiply by √3 (use P = √3 × V × I × PF).