Popular PMI White Paper: Arithmetic vs. Vector Power

Read about two methods for identifying apparent power and power factor, with the help of PMI's Revolution.

The basic formulas for RMS voltage, current, power, etc. in a simple single-phase circuit are well-defined and universal.

For polyphase systems, the situation is more complex: in the 3-phase delta there are hidden variables that prevent an exact calculation of some values.

For these there are different methods which make different assumptions about the system.

Here, two different methods for computing apparent power and power factor are given – the arithmetic and vector methods, along with suggestions on which to use.

In a simple single-phase situation, the RMS voltage and current Vrms and Irms, real power W, reactive power VAR, apparent power VA, and power factor PF are straightforward to calculate...

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