1. What is Power Consumption Calculation?

Definition: This calculator estimates the electrical energy consumption in kilowatt-hours (kWh) based on voltage, current, power factor, and time.

Purpose: It helps determine the energy usage of electrical devices or systems for energy management, cost estimation, and efficiency analysis.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( E_{kWh} \) — Energy consumption (kilowatt-hours)
• \( V \) — Voltage (volts)
• \( I \) — Current (amperes)
• \( PF \) — Power factor (unitless, 0 to 1)
• \( t \) — Time (hours)

Explanation: The formula multiplies voltage, current, power factor, and time to get watt-hours, then divides by 1000 to convert to kilowatt-hours.

3. Importance of Power Consumption Calculation

Details: Accurate power consumption estimation helps in energy cost calculation, system sizing, efficiency improvements, and environmental impact assessment.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter voltage in volts, current in amps, power factor (default 1.0 for resistive loads), and time in hours. All values must be > 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is power factor?
A: Power factor is the ratio of real power to apparent power, ranging from 0 to 1. Resistive loads have PF=1, while inductive loads have lower PF.

Q2: Why divide by 1000?
A: The division converts watt-hours to kilowatt-hours (1 kWh = 1000 Wh), the standard unit for electricity billing.

Q3: What's a typical power factor value?
A: For purely resistive loads (heaters, incandescent lights) PF=1. Motors typically have PF=0.8-0.9. Electronic devices may have lower PF (0.6-0.7).

Q4: Can I use this for DC circuits?
A: Yes, for DC circuits use PF=1 (since there's no reactive power in DC systems).

Q5: How accurate is this calculation?
A: It provides theoretical consumption. Actual consumption may vary due to efficiency losses, voltage fluctuations, and other factors.