kVA to Watts calculator
What is the Formula:
The formula to convert kVA to Watts:
P(w) = 1000 x S (kVA) x PF
Definition of each element of the calculation:
P = Real Power in Watts (W)
Real power is the definite amount of power that is consumed in the circuit. The unit of real power is Watts such that 1W = 1V x 1A.
Real power is denoted by the letter P’ in capital.
S = Apparent Power in kilovolt-amps (kVA)
When the voltage and current of a circuit are multiplied, the product is the apparent power only if the differences between the phase angle of voltage and current are neglected.
The unit of apparent power is Volts-Amps such that 1VA = 1V x 1A and kVA is kilovolt-amps where VA is multiplied by 1000. Apparent power is denoted by the letter ’S’ in the capital.
PF = Power Factor
Power Factor represents the ratio of the real power that is dissipated in the circuit and the apparent power that is transferred to the circuit.
Power Factor is represented in percentage such that the higher the percentage of the power factor, the more efficient usage of power.
The power factor of 96% is considered highly efficient but if it is less than 95%, it is evaluated as inefficient in many sectors.
As the power factor is the ratio of real power and apparent power, it does not have any unit though it is denoted by the letters ‘PF’ in the capital.
How to do the calculation:
P(w) = 1000 x S (kVA) x PF
In the formula to convert kVa to watts, the real power is equal to 1000 multiplied by apparent power by the power factor.
The formula can also be rewritten as:
Watts = 1000 x Kilovolt-amps x PF
or,
W = 1000 x kVA x PF.
Here is an example:
In a circuit, the apparent power is 5 kVA and the power factor is 0.4, convert kVa to watts by calculating the real power of the circuit.
Solution:
Apparent power, S = 5 Kilovolt-amps (kVA)
Power factor, pf = 0.4
Real Power, P = ?
P = 1000 x S x PF
= 1000 x 5 kVA x 0.4
= 2000 Watts
The result of kVA to watt calculation = 2000 watts.
Important tips and warnings during the conversion of kVA to watts:
· Always remember that the power factor, PF, can never be greater than 1 or less than 0. The closer the power factor is to 1, the more it is efficient.
· Here are the detailed formula to convert kVA to watts:
kVA = (V x I) /1000 where V represents the line-to-line voltage of the load and I is the maximum phase current of the load.
PF = Real power / Apparent power
= Watt / VA
Conclusion:
Everyday electrical appliances such as microwave ovens, toaster, coffee maker, stoves, etc, run in phase power.
But large machines such as diesel generators, the voltage and current are not in phase and leads to the high cost of electricity.
Hence to decrease the costs, equipment that corrects the power factor is installed.
This enables us to provide a full supply of both current and voltage even though they run out of phase.