1. What is Single-Phase AC Power Calculation?

Definition: This calculator computes the real power in kilowatts for a single-phase AC electrical system.

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

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( P_{kW} \) — Real power (kilowatts)
• \( V \) — RMS voltage (volts)
• \( I \) — RMS current (amps)
• \( PF \) — Power factor (unitless, 0-1)

Explanation: The product of voltage and current gives apparent power, which is then multiplied by the power factor to get real power, converted to kilowatts.

3. Importance of Power Factor

Details: Power factor represents the ratio of real power to apparent power. A higher PF (closer to 1) indicates more efficient power usage.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the voltage in volts, current in amps, and power factor (default 0.8). Power factor must be between 0 and 1.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's a typical power factor value?
A: For residential loads, PF is typically 0.8-0.9. Industrial motors might have 0.7-0.8. Pure resistive loads have PF=1.

Q2: Why divide by 1000?
A: The division converts watts to kilowatts (1 kW = 1000 W).

Q3: Does this work for DC circuits?
A: For DC, use PF=1 (since there's no phase difference between V and I).

Q4: How do I measure current and voltage?
A: Use a multimeter or clamp meter to measure RMS values in the circuit.

Q5: What if I know apparent power (kVA)?
A: Simply multiply kVA by power factor to get kW (P_kW = kVA × PF).