1. What Is Power Consumption?

Power consumption refers to the amount of electrical energy used by a device or system over time. It is measured in watts (W) and represents the rate at which electrical energy is converted into other forms of energy.

2. How Does The Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the power consumption formula:

Where:

• \( P \) — Power consumption in watts (W)
• \( V \) — Voltage in volts (V)
• \( I \) — Current in amperes (A)
• \( PF \) — Power factor (dimensionless, 0-1)

Explanation: This formula calculates the real power consumed by an electrical device, taking into account the phase relationship between voltage and current in AC circuits.

3. Importance Of Power Factor

Details: Power factor represents the efficiency of power usage. A power factor of 1 indicates perfect efficiency, while lower values indicate reactive power consumption that doesn't perform useful work but still burdens the electrical system.

4. Using The Calculator

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 ranging from 0 to 1.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the difference between real power and apparent power?
A: Real power (P) is the actual power consumed and measured in watts. Apparent power (S = V×I) is measured in volt-amperes and includes both real and reactive power components.

Q2: Why is power factor important in electrical systems?
A: Low power factor increases current flow for the same real power, leading to higher energy losses, larger conductors, and reduced system capacity. Utilities often charge penalties for low power factor.

Q3: What are typical power factor values?
A: Resistive loads (heaters, incandescent lamps) have PF ≈ 1.0. Induction motors typically have PF = 0.8-0.9. Electronic power supplies can have PF as low as 0.5-0.7 without correction.

Q4: How can power factor be improved?
A: Power factor correction capacitors, synchronous condensers, or active power factor correction circuits can be used to bring power factor closer to 1.0.

Q5: Does this formula work for both AC and DC circuits?
A: For DC circuits, power factor is always 1, so P = V×I. For AC circuits, the power factor must be included to account for phase differences between voltage and current.