My favorites
…

Questions, examples and engineering limits

Calculate balanced three-phase real, reactive and apparent power, line/phase voltage and current. Compare star/delta connections and power factor.

Content updated:

How is Three-Phase Power Calculator: Star, Delta and Power Factor calculated?

Use P = √3 VL IL PF; S = √3 VL IL; Q = √(S²−P²). Calculate balanced three-phase real, reactive and apparent power, line/phase voltage and current. Compare star/delta connections and power factor.

Sources: fluke.com [1]

How do I calculate this example: VL = 400 V, IL = 10 A, PF = 0.8?

S ≈ 6.928203 kVA; P ≈ 5.542563 kW; Q ≈ 4.156922 kvar. This is a calculated example under the model stated above; it is not a measured component specification.

Which units does Three-Phase Power Calculator: Star, Delta and Power Factor use?

V, A, W, VA, var. Convert prefixes before substituting values; keep the input and output units attached to every number.

Sources: fluke.com [1]

Which voltage belongs in the √3 power formula?

Use line-to-line RMS voltage and line RMS current for a balanced sinusoidal system. Using phase voltage in that expression introduces a √3 error.

Sources: fluke.com [1]

How do star and delta change line and phase values?

For balanced star: VL = √3 Vphase and IL = Iphase. For balanced delta: VL = Vphase and IL = √3 Iphase.

Sources: fluke.com [1]

Does this handle unbalance and harmonic power factor?

No. The simple power triangle assumes the stated balanced sinusoidal model. Unbalanced or nonlinear loads need per-phase measurements and appropriate power analysis.

Sources: fluke.com [1]

Answers use the stated model and units. Examples are calculated values, not measurements or component ratings.