1. What is 3-Phase Power Calculation?

The 3-phase power calculation formula is used to calculate the real power in a three-phase AC electrical system. It accounts for the phase relationship between voltage and current through the power factor.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the 3-phase power formula:

Where:

• \( P \) — Power in watts
• \( V \) — Line-to-line voltage in volts
• \( I \) — Current in amps
• \( PF \) — Power factor (unitless, between 0 and 1)
• \( \sqrt{3} \) — Constant for 3-phase systems (approximately 1.732)

Explanation: The formula calculates the real power in a balanced 3-phase system by multiplying the square root of 3 by the voltage, current, and power factor.

3. Importance of 3-Phase Power Calculation

Details: Accurate power calculation is essential for electrical system design, load balancing, energy consumption analysis, and proper equipment sizing in industrial and commercial applications.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter line-to-line voltage in volts, current in amps, and power factor (typically between 0.8-1.0). All values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is power factor and why is it important?
A: Power factor represents the ratio of real power to apparent power. It indicates how effectively electrical power is being used. A lower power factor means more current is required to deliver the same amount of real power.

Q2: When should I use this 3-phase calculation?
A: Use this calculation for balanced 3-phase AC systems commonly found in industrial motors, commercial buildings, and power distribution systems.

Q3: What's the difference between line-to-line and line-to-neutral voltage?
A: In 3-phase systems, line-to-line voltage is between two phases, while line-to-neutral is between one phase and neutral. This calculator uses line-to-line voltage.

Q4: How does this differ from single-phase power calculation?
A: Single-phase power is P = V × I × PF, while 3-phase includes the √3 factor to account for the phase relationships in three-phase systems.

Q5: What are typical power factor values?
A: Power factor typically ranges from 0.8 to 1.0. Resistive loads have PF=1, inductive loads (motors, transformers) have lower PF, while capacitive loads can have leading power factors.