Home
Back
Real Power Formula:
| From: | To: |
Real power (P) is the actual power consumed by electrical equipment to perform useful work. It is measured in watts (W) and represents the energy conversion from electrical to other forms of energy like mechanical, heat, or light.
The calculator uses the real power formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates the actual power consumed in an AC circuit, taking into account the phase difference between voltage and current through the power factor.
Details: Accurate real power calculation is essential for electrical system design, energy consumption analysis, power billing, and ensuring efficient operation of electrical equipment.
Tips: Enter voltage in volts, current in amperes, and power factor (between 0 and 1). All values must be valid positive numbers with power factor in the range 0-1.
Q1: What is the difference between real power and apparent power?
A: Real power (P) is the actual power consumed, while apparent power (S) is the product of voltage and current. Apparent power is measured in volt-amperes (VA).
Q2: Why is power factor important?
A: Power factor indicates how effectively electrical power is being used. A lower power factor means more current is required to deliver the same real power, leading to higher energy losses.
Q3: What is a typical power factor value?
A: Power factor ranges from 0 to 1. Industrial facilities typically aim for 0.95 or higher. Resistive loads have power factor of 1, while inductive loads have lower power factors.
Q4: How can power factor be improved?
A: Power factor can be improved by adding capacitors to the circuit, using synchronous motors, or reducing reactive power consumption.
Q5: Does this formula work for both AC and DC circuits?
A: For DC circuits, power factor is always 1 (cosφ = 1), so the formula simplifies to P = V × I. For AC circuits, the power factor must be considered.