If you want to save on energy consumption costs, then you’ve probably heard of a KVAR unit or KVAR energy savings devices. These are units that help residential homes and commercial businesses generate savings on their electric bills, especially in the use of their AC systems.

There are three terms one can use to refer to alternating AC power. The first one is the kilowatt, which represents real power. This is the measurement used to record power in the utility meters by the side of your house. The second is reactive power, which is measured in KVAR or Kilovolt-Ampere Reactive. In the context of transmission and distribution of electric power, Kilovolt-Ampere Reactive is used to refer to a unit of measurement of reactive power. You don’t pay for this, though, which is why KVAR doesn’t show up on your utility meters. The third term is apparent power and is referred to as KVA. To understand these concepts better, you’ll want to mention the power factor, which is the ratio between apparent power and active power. Apparent power, in turn, is made up of two types of power: active power and reactive power. The lower the reactive power component is, the higher the power factor, which leads to better cost-savings for you.

How is a KVAR Calculation done?

There are several ways to perform a KVAR Calculation if you need to calculate the reactive power of a given load. If you want to go with a practical approach, use a voltmeter along with an ammeter or amp meter to get it done. The product of the readings will give you the apparent power of the load in volt-amperes. The resulting figure will also help you work out the true power in watts of the given load. Given those numbers, finding the vectorial difference shouldn’t present any problems. When you determine what the reactive power is, you can find the right capacitors necessary to lower apparent power components in your systems. That’s how you can cut down on the power factor if you want to save on costs. For instance, if you install a 30 KVAR of capacitors, these will go on to reduce the reactive power provided by the utility company to 30 KVAR. The apparent power supplied by the utility, on the other hand, will drop to about 85.4 kVA.

What is Reactive Power/ KVAR formula?

Reactive power is the unused power generated by reactive components in an AC circuit or system and is measured in KVAR. In terms of the power factor, the greater the reactive power is, the higher the apparent power or kVA is as well. In residential homes, the amount of kWh’s used is quite low. That’s why companies don’t charge residential properties for it. The low amounts of power don’t cause any alarm for electricity companies. Commercial and industrial electric firms, though, consume this in massive amounts, so electricity companies charge them a premium. For the KVAR formula, it is as follows: Q = X*I*I. In reactive power formula, X refers to the reactance of the circuit and I is the current that runs through the circuit. You’ll need to understand the formula to learn more about the use of reactive power.

How does the KVAR power factor unit work?

Before you understand how the KVAR power factor works, you need to be clear about what the power factor is. It is essentially a measure of how effective the use of incoming power in your electrical system is. The ratio is working power to Apparent or total power. That is the power factor formula. To understand what the power factor correction KVAR is, remember that the power factor is the ratio between real and apparent power. That means the higher the percentage of the KVAR in your load, the lower the ratio of the kW to the kVA. The outcome gives you a poor power factor. Use that observation when you perform a power factor calculation formula KVAR.

How do I install a KVAR energy controller?

If you want cost-savings and plan to install a KVAR energy controller in your system, then stick to the basics. Follow the instructions carefully. Make sure you turn off the power first before you start to work on installing a KVAR energy saver unit. If you don’t have the tools, experience, and knowledge—not to mention the time and skills—to carry out this task, then you’ll have better luck—and results—when you hire a professional. Look for someone with the experience and knowledge to add an energy saver unit to your existing system. After that, you only need to wait for the cost-savings to start making a difference in your bills.

What is kVA and how do I calculate it?

While KVAR means Kilovolt-Ampere Reactive, kVA stands for Kilovolt amperes. For the most part, it is commonly referred to as Kilowatt or kW, which is the general term. It’s the unit measurement used to rate most—if not all—of the electrical items you have at home.

The term refers to the amount of power that is used to work is converted into an output, so when you talk about kW, you are talking about actual power. To calculate actual power or the power consumption of a device, you need to determine the apparent power. This can be calculated with the following formula: Amps x Volts = Volts-Amps. Once you work out how much the apparent power is, you can determine the real power. For instance, that will mean Amps x Volts x Power Factor = Watts. That’s the KVA calculation.

For the KVA formula to generate the results you want, you’ll need to determine the power factor too. The power factor is essential if you want to know the real power consumption of a device in your home—for instance, your AC. Once you’re done, you will end up with an accurate calculation of your system’s power consumption. The information will help you manage your home or facility’s utility bills.

What is the difference between kVA and kVAR?

The power supplied to us by electricity companies is called the apparent power. That is the actual power measured in kVA and expressed in terms of voltage and current, which is then broken down into two types of power: you have active power (kW) and reactive power (kVAR). If you want to be particular about the difference between KVA and KVAR, kVA stands for real or actual power while kVAR stands for reactive or inductive power.

When you see the energy that creates motion, light, heat, and sound, those are all powered by active power. Reactive power is the power that generates magnetic fields that drive rotating equipment and is dependent on the power factor. The power factor formula is the following: active power x 100 / apparent power.

If you are looking for a way to save on energy consumption costs, then think about having capacitors installed. Use of the right capacitors will decrease the reactive power component by the Utility, which will lead to a drop in the apparent power component. The result? You’ll end up with a higher power factor.

Getting help

Understanding these concepts can help you improve energy efficiency at your facility. If you’re tired of paying more than you should on your energy bills, then look for pros that can provide you with a home energy evaluation. Find out what you can do to reduce energy consumption levels. With the help of a team of expert and trusted electricians to undertake the work for you, you can find a way to save on costs and ensure better financial performance for your facility.

To pick the right service provider, make sure you do your homework. Check out reviews about the firm. Are there a lot of complaints or positive comments? What do the majority of the feedback say about the quality of the firm’s services? Factor these in when you look for an electrical services provider. Dig into the company’s background too. How long has it been in business? Does it have enough experience to have built a solid reputation in the industry? Does the firm deliver quality results?

These considerations will matter. The more you know, the easier it will be for you to pick the right firm to handle your energy consumption needs. If you want to save on costs, then start looking for the right firm to help you get your power consumption and utility bills back on track.