Method required to calculate capacitor for Power Factor compensation
Method required to calculate capacitor for Power Factor compensation
(OP)
I tried using this method as follows:
1. Calculate the VARs by taking the square root of the difference of the squares of the VA and Watt value.
2. Divide the square of the Volts by the VARs value to obtain the impedance.
3.The capacitor value for pf = 1.00 is supposed to be the reciprocal of the product of 2 , Pi and this impedance.
I used a lower capacitor than the calculate value, on a ballast but sometimes even measured negative power factor values with my meter. I was using a Goosen MetraHit 28S meter. Has anyone a more reliable method for a capacitor?
1. Calculate the VARs by taking the square root of the difference of the squares of the VA and Watt value.
2. Divide the square of the Volts by the VARs value to obtain the impedance.
3.The capacitor value for pf = 1.00 is supposed to be the reciprocal of the product of 2 , Pi and this impedance.
I used a lower capacitor than the calculate value, on a ballast but sometimes even measured negative power factor values with my meter. I was using a Goosen MetraHit 28S meter. Has anyone a more reliable method for a capacitor?






RE: Method required to calculate capacitor for Power Factor compensation
The capacitance in farads is the reciprocal of 2·pi·frequency·reactance. You forgot the frequency. I'm not sure why you need this step, however, because you normally size capacitors in vars, not farads.
RE: Method required to calculate capacitor for Power Factor compensation
C= 1/(2*pi*f*X)
As jgrisht mentioned you did not include the frequency, a factor of 60 or 50:)
This capacitor need to be connected 'across' or parallel with the ballast.
RE: Method required to calculate capacitor for Power Factor compensation
RE: Method required to calculate capacitor for Power Factor compensation