Since I'm way more into RF than industrial power distribution, I've always been able to think of "power factor" on the electrical power grid in terms similar to antenna system reflections, which are commonly measured in terms of SWR. After all, both are AC systems where the voltage and current bear a phase relationship to each other.
When they are perfectly in phase the power factor is 1.0, and a 60-Hz SWR meter would measure 1:1. When they are out of phase (power factor <1) that SWR meter would read greater than 1:1. I suspect, though I haven't done the math or looked up the specific matahematical definition of power factor, that it would be direcly proportional to the reciprocal of the power factor. And as we know, when that happens the power generating end has more difficulty delivering power efficiently to the load. The main difference is that at 60 Hz, the wavelengths are EXTREMELY long. I'm wondering if engineers and technicians who deal with cross- country power distribution must have to consider SWR effects on the power transmission line. In practice in homes and small factories, I would think, the SWR on the line caused by a mismatch between the characteristic impedance of the transmission line and the load is an insignificant factor, like worrying about the SWR measurement shift caused by a two-foot RG-213 jumper on 160M. At least as far as the transmission line is concerned - no significant voltage and current nodes and loops developed along the line like on an RF transmission line. A simplistic or impractical way of looking at things? I don't know. Maybe. Works for me. I know this is veering OT, but I beg your indulgence. This reminds me of something I heard a couple hams talking about on HF several years ago when we had sunspots: The effects of the electrical energy circulating in the ionosphere during solar storms and magnetic storms. I understand the frequency of the oscillations can be quite low but very, very strong. Seems to me the only "Antennas" long enough to be a significant portion of a wavelength and therefore long enough to pick up a significant "signal" would be long cross-country electrical power transmission lines. Since they are close together in terms of wavelength at low frequencies, the signal would be common-mode. I've always wanted to ask someone who might have experience in this regard what sort of effects these ionospheric phenomena have on the power distribution network. Ramble off. 73, Brad KB9BPF --- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, "Eric Lemmon" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > John, > > You are correct that when the power factor is 1.00, the current is in phase > with the voltage, as it will be in a purely resistive circuit. In this > unique case, watts equals volt-amperes. However, when the load is reactive, > the current either leads or lags the applied voltage.
