Backup generators

[ban-all-sheds]

apparant power and actual power. times KVA by 0.8 to get what roughly what KW it can power (0.8 is thepower factor, which varies)

It varies enormously - why pick a number of 0.8 and say that's what a generator can support?

 

[andy]

apparant power and actual power. times KVA by 0.8 to get what roughly what KW it can power (0.8 is thepower factor, which varies)

It varies enormously - why pick a number of 0.8 and say that's what a generator can support?

i remember reading a document about it a few month ago. it said for most single phase equipment the power factor is about 0.8

 

[plugwash]

im sure i heared somewhere that required consumer equipment to not have a power factor below something like 0.7

to be honest the only high load stuff usually seen in a domestic situation is heating gear which has a power factor extremely close to 1

 

[Lectrician]

Very rare to see a lagging PF in a domestic install. 0.8 used to be the factor given to flourescent fittings etc, but even these have improved with time.

We have PF correction on a site we maintain, and what a difference that makes!! Drops the supply current by 150 amps!!