Kilovolt-amps (KVA) is the product of a rated voltage multiplied by an amperage. KVA is often used as a specification with batteries because of their direct current electrical output. This unit is often used to determine the wattage of electrical system when further calculations, specifically the power factor, must be taken into account to adequately quantify the capabilities of the electrical source. This allows for a more accurate determination of the wattage capabilities of the system.
Instructions
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1
Determine the power factor for the electrical system. This specification accompanies power supplies and batteries in the manufacturer's documentation. If this specification is unknown, or a new system is being devised, it is the industry standard to use a power factor of 60 percent or 0.60.
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2
Multiply the kilovolts by the amperage of the system.
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3
Multiply the resulting value by the power factor. This yields the wattage of the electrical system being investigated.