EP 26 - Power Line Analysis and Power Factor

Today I perform a demonstration of how capacitive, resistive, and inductive loads interact with one another. I show how current leads voltage when a capacitive load is applied to the circuit, and I show how the opposite effect occurs when an inductive load is applied. In addition to this, I demonstrate how adding a capacitor in parallel to a highly inductive motor load actually serves to decrease the current (though not the real power) drawn by the system.

In order to perform these experiments, I also demonstrate how to use a series-connected resistor to perform power line analysis on any power load, using the two channels of an oscilloscope.

I conclude this video with a brief overview of phasor diagrams, and a more formal mathematical representation of power factor. I also highlight the importance of power factor correction in industrial applications.

Thanks for watching!

[LouisWilen]

This is probably the best video that I've seen that explains power factor and reactance in general. Excellent demo and excellent explanation of the math behind the effects. If you do a follow-up, it would be interesting to watch the scope while you put a load on the motor.

[ignacioxxi]

Great video. Thanks. A few comments: At 20:40 Greater L will result in lower current.
At 19:15 I don't agree when V=0 means V is Imaginary. Voltage is produced by generator and the wave is the representation of de FEM (spanish Fuerza Electro Motriz) . If its 0, then there is no FEM (0volts) Nothing to do with real or imaginary volts.

[blakegardner]

Thanks for the awesome video! Can you make a video explaining how to measure power factor by looking at the waveform phase shift on an oscilloscope?

[drçokbilmiş]

that was the best explaining thank you

[Impedancenetwork]

Oh that shitty oscope makes my eyes hurt.