[TCML] terminology

[Jim Lux]

mark olson wrote:
> At 09:21 AM 4/6/08 -0700, you wrote:
>> ... if there's 50 Amps flowing at 240V, that's 12kVA, while the watts 
>> could be anywhere from zero to 12000)
> I dont understand this statement
> 

If the load were purely resistive (power factor, PF=1.0), then it would 
be 12kVA and 12kW.

If the load is purely reactive (PF=0), then it would be 12kVA and 0kW 
(because a reactive load doesn't dissipate any power).

Consider, for instance, a PF=0.7 load (a lightly loaded AC motor, for 
instance, or an older fluorescent light).. Then, you might be drawing 
50A at 240V (so the VA is 12kVA) but only drawing 8.4kW of actual power.

Active power (watts) is what spins the meter and what you pay for.