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AC Power Formula:
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AC Power Consumption refers to the electrical power used by devices operating on alternating current. It's calculated using voltage, current, and power factor to determine the actual power consumed in watts.
The calculator uses the AC power formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates real power consumption by accounting for the phase difference between voltage and current in AC circuits through the power factor.
Details: Power factor represents the efficiency of power usage. A higher power factor (closer to 1) indicates more efficient energy transfer, while lower values indicate reactive power losses.
Tips: Enter voltage in volts, current in amperes, and power factor between 0 and 1. All values must be positive numbers with power factor ranging from 0 to 1.
Q1: What is power factor and why is it important?
A: Power factor measures how effectively electrical power is converted into useful work. Low power factor means inefficient power usage and may result in higher electricity costs.
Q2: What are typical power factor values?
A: Ideal power factor is 1.0. Most devices range from 0.6 to 0.95. Motors typically have 0.8-0.9, while computers have 0.6-0.7.
Q3: How does power factor affect energy bills?
A: Commercial and industrial users may pay penalties for low power factor, as it requires utilities to supply more current for the same real power.
Q4: Can power factor be improved?
A: Yes, through power factor correction using capacitors or synchronous condensers to reduce reactive power and improve efficiency.
Q5: What's the difference between real power and apparent power?
A: Real power (W) does useful work, while apparent power (VA) is the product of voltage and current. Power factor = Real Power ÷ Apparent Power.