1. What is a 3-Phase Power Calculator?

Definition: This calculator computes the real power in a three-phase electrical system based on voltage, current, and power factor.

Purpose: It helps electricians, engineers, and technicians determine the actual power consumption in three-phase AC circuits.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( P \) — Real power (watts)
• \( V \) — Line-to-line voltage (volts)
• \( I \) — Current (amperes)
• \( PF \) — Power factor (dimensionless, 0 to 1)

Explanation: The formula accounts for the three-phase nature of the system (√3 factor) and the phase difference between voltage and current (power factor).

3. Importance of 3-Phase Power Calculation

Details: Accurate power calculation is essential for proper equipment sizing, energy efficiency analysis, and electrical system design.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the line-to-line voltage in volts, current in amperes, and power factor (default 0.8). All values must be > 0, with power factor between 0 and 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: Why √3 in the formula?
A: The √3 factor accounts for the phase difference in three-phase systems when converting between line-to-line and phase quantities.

Q3: What's a typical power factor value?
A: Industrial loads typically have power factors between 0.8 and 0.95. Motors might be around 0.85, while purely resistive loads have PF=1.

Q4: Is this formula for line-to-line or line-to-neutral voltage?
A: This formula uses line-to-line voltage (the voltage between any two phases).

Q5: How does this differ from single-phase power calculation?
A: Single-phase power is simply V×I×PF, without the √3 factor that accounts for three-phase relationships.