Volt amperes are a measure of apparent power in an electrical circuit. Apparent power is useful in the study and implementation of alternating current designs. Though the same calculation may be made for direct current, the value is much less useful as it is simply equal to the wattage of the circuit. Moving from a measure of amperes to volt amperes requires a simple calculation based on the specifications of the circuit being investigated.
Instructions
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1
Determine the operating voltage of the alternating current circuit being examined. This is most commonly done by determining the voltage of the outlet used to power the device.
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2
Multiply the voltage of the circuit by the amperes. This calculation yields the volt amps of the system.
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3
Divide the volt amps of the system by 1,000. This final calculation yields the kVA, kilovolt amperes, of the electrical system in question.