Question 1

What is power factor?

Accepted Answer

Ratio of real power (W) to apparent power (VA). PF = 1 for resistive loads, <1 for inductive/capacitive loads.

Question 2

Why is power factor important?

Accepted Answer

Low PF wastes energy and requires larger wires. Utilities may charge penalties for PF below 0.9.

Question 3

What's the relationship between volts, amps, and watts?

Accepted Answer

Power (Watts) = Voltage (Volts) × Current (Amps). To find any value, divide or multiply: Amps = Watts/Volts, Volts = Watts/Amps.

Question 4

Is AWG or metric wire gauge better?

Accepted Answer

AWG (American Wire Gauge) uses arbitrary numbers where smaller = thicker. Metric (mm²) directly indicates cross-sectional area, making calculations easier.

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