Power factor correction is a frequently misunderstood topic. Improper techniques can result in over-correction, under-correction, and/or harmonic resonance, so it can be helpful to understand the ...

According to the IEEE Standard Dictionary of Electrical and Electronic Terms, power factor (PF) is defined as the ratio of the circuit power (watts) to the circuit volt-amperes. This is described by ...

Ideally, the power factor should be 1; then the load appears as a resistor to the AC source. However, in the real world, electrical loads not only cause distortions in AC current waveforms, but also ...

Low power factor reduces an electrical system’s distribution capacity by increasing current flow. Therefore, having a low power factor is inefficient and expensive. But what is power factor and what ...

As a solid state light source, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have been widely used due to their superior longevity, excellent efficacy, and friendly environmental attributes. Today, LEDs are replacing ...

Your utility Power Factor is the ratio of the system’s Real Power and the Apparent Power (Eq. 1, Fig. 1). This unitless factor ranges from −1 to 1. The Power Factor ratio aptly describes the type of ...

Two related phenomena, both called “power factor,” cause problems on electrical power lines. In each case, the ac current being drawn by the load is not exactly synchronized with the ac voltage on the ...