Enter both values to calculate volt-amperes
Watts (W)
Power Factor (PF)
Common:
Volt-Amperes (VA)
Result will appear here
Understanding Apparent vs Real Power
VA and watts differ by the power factor:
- Real Power (W) = Apparent Power (VA) × Power Factor
- Apparent Power (VA) = Real Power (W) ÷ Power Factor
- Power Factor ranges from 0 to 1 (1 = perfectly efficient)
For Inverter Sizing
Understanding these relationships helps you:
- Size inverters correctly - Always size for VA, not watts
- Understand UPS ratings - VA tells the full story
- Account for motors - They have low power factor (0.6-0.8)
- Plan for inductive loads - Electronics often have PF around 0.9
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