1. What is Motor Power Consumption?

Motor power consumption refers to the amount of electrical power a motor uses to perform mechanical work. It's calculated using voltage, current, and power factor for AC motors.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the single-phase power formula:

Where:

• \( P \) — Power in watts (W)
• \( V \) — Voltage in volts (V)
• \( I \) — Current in amperes (A)
• \( PF \) — Power factor (unitless, 0 to 1)

Explanation: The formula accounts for both the real power (V×I) and the efficiency factor (PF) in AC circuits.

3. Importance of Power Calculation

Details: Accurate power calculation helps in sizing electrical systems, estimating energy costs, and ensuring motor efficiency.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter voltage in volts, current in amps, and power factor (typically 0.8-0.95 for motors). All values must be positive (voltage > 0, current > 0, 0 < PF ≤ 1).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is power factor?
A: Power factor is the ratio of real power to apparent power, representing efficiency of power usage (1 = perfect, typical motors 0.8-0.95).

Q2: Is this formula for AC or DC motors?
A: This is for single-phase AC motors. For DC motors, omit the power factor (P = V × I).

Q3: How to measure current for this calculation?
A: Use a clamp meter to measure current while motor is operating under normal load.

Q4: What about three-phase motors?
A: Three-phase power calculation is different: P = √3 × V × I × PF.

Q5: Why is my motor's actual consumption different?
A: Variations can occur due to load conditions, motor efficiency, voltage fluctuations, and measurement accuracy.