Power Factor Calculator – Calculate PF and Phase Angle

Energy efficiency

Low power factor means wasted energy and higher electricity bills.

System capacity

Poor power factor reduces available power in electrical systems.

Utility penalties

Many utilities charge extra for power factor below 0.95.

Equipment sizing

Correct PF calculations ensure proper transformer and generator sizing.

Power triangle analysis

Understand the relationship between real, reactive, and apparent power.

What is power factor?

Power factor is the ratio of real power to apparent power (P/S). It ranges from 0 to 1, with 1 being perfect efficiency.

How do you calculate power factor?

PF = Real Power / Apparent Power = P/S. You can also use PF = cos(phi) where phi is the phase angle.

What causes low power factor?

Inductive loads like motors, transformers, and fluorescent lights create reactive power, lowering the power factor.

What is a good power factor value?

A power factor of 0.95 or higher is excellent. Below 0.85 indicates poor efficiency needing correction.

How do you improve power factor?

Add capacitors to counteract inductive loads. This reduces reactive power and brings PF closer to 1.