Power Factor

A measurement of the time phase difference between the voltage and current in an alternating current circuit. It is represented by the cosine of the angle of this phase difference. For an angle of 0 degrees, the power factor is 100% and the volt amperes of the circuit are equal to the watts, which is ideal though unrealistic. Power factor is the ratio of real power (kW) to total kilovolt amps (kVA) or the ratio of actual power, or watts, to apparent power, or volt amperes.