1. What is an Electric Power Consumption Calculator?

Definition: This calculator estimates the electrical energy consumption based on voltage, current, power factor, and time.

Purpose: It helps engineers, electricians, and homeowners determine how much electrical energy a device or system will consume over time.

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, 0-1)
• \( t \) — Time (hours)

Explanation: The product of voltage, current, power factor, and time gives watt-hours, which is converted to kilowatt-hours by dividing by 1000.

3. Importance of Power Consumption Calculation

Details: Accurate power consumption estimation helps in energy budgeting, electrical system design, and cost analysis.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the 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 PF<1.

Q2: How do I find the current (I) value?
A: Use a clamp meter to measure current or check the device's nameplate/specifications.

Q3: When would I use a power factor less than 1?
A: For inductive loads like motors, transformers, or fluorescent lighting where current and voltage are not perfectly in phase.

Q4: Can I use this for DC circuits?
A: Yes, for DC set PF=1 (DC has no phase difference between voltage and current).

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