Volt-ampere

A volt-ampere (SI symbol: V⋅A or V A; also VA) is the unit used for the apparent power in an electrical circuit. The apparent power equals the product of root-mean-square (RMS) voltage and RMS current.[1] In direct current (DC) circuits, this product is equal to the real power (active power) [2] in watts. Volt-amperes are useful only in the context of alternating current (AC) circuits. The volt-ampere is dimensionally equivalent to the watt (in SI units, 1 V⋅A = 1 N⋅m⋅A⁻¹⋅s⁻¹⋅A = 1 N⋅m⋅s⁻¹ = 1 J⋅s⁻¹ = 1 W). VA rating is most useful in rating wires and switches (and other power handling equipment) for inductive loads.

volt-ampere
Apparent power is the magnitude of the vector sum (S) of real (P) and reactive (jQ) AC power vectors
General information
Unit system	SI units
Unit of	Apparent power
Symbol	V⋅A
Conversions
1 V⋅A in ...	... is equal to ...
SI base units	1 kg⋅m^2⋅s^−3

With a purely resistive load, the apparent power is equal to the real power. Where a reactive (capacitive or inductive) component is present in the load, the apparent power is greater than the real power as voltage and current are no longer in phase. In the limiting case of a purely reactive load, current is drawn but no power is dissipated in the load.

Some devices, including uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs), have ratings both for maximum volt-amperes and maximum watts. The VA rating is limited by the maximum permissible current, and the watt rating by the power-handling capacity of the device. When a UPS powers equipment which presents a reactive load with a low power factor, neither limit may safely be exceeded.[3] For example, a (large) UPS system rated to deliver 400,000 volt-amperes at 220 volts can deliver a current of 1818 amperes.

VA ratings are also often used for transformers; maximum output current is then VA rating divided by nominal output voltage.[4] Transformers with the same sized core usually have the same VA rating.

The convention of using the volt-ampere to distinguish apparent power from real power is allowed by the SI standard.[5]

Volt-ampere reactive

In electric power transmission and distribution, volt-ampere reactive (var) is a unit of measurement of reactive power. Reactive power exists in an AC circuit when the current and voltage are not in phase. The term var was proposed by the Romanian electrical engineer Constantin Budeanu and introduced in 1930 by the IEC in Stockholm, which has adopted it as the unit for reactive power.

Special instruments called varmeters are available to measure the reactive power in a circuit.[6]

The unit "var" is allowed by the International System of Units (SI) even though the unit var is representative of a form of power.[7] SI allows one to specify units to indicate common sense physical considerations. Per EU directive 80/181/EEC (the "metric directive"), the correct symbol is lower-case "var",[8] although the spellings "Var" and "VAr" are commonly seen, and "VAR" is widely used throughout the power industry.

See also

• AC power

References

1. Ciletti, M. D., Irwin, J. D., Kraus, A. D., Balabanian, N., Bickard, T. A., and Chan, S. P. (1993). Linear circuit analysis. In Electrical Engineering Handbook, edited by R. C. Dorf. Boca Raton: CRC Press. (pp.82–87)
2. IEEE 100 : the authoritative dictionary of IEEE standards terms.-7th ed. ISBN 0-7381-2601-2, page 14
3. Watt Ratings Differs From Volt Amp Ratings APC
4. "Transformers and VA Ratings". 2012-06-27. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
5. "SI Brochure" (8th ed.).
6. Wildi, Theodore (2002). Electrical Machines, Drives and Power Systems. Pearson. p. 137. ISBN 978-0-13-093083-5.
7. SI Brochure, 8th ed.
8. Council Directive on units of measurements 80/181/EEC Chapter 1.2.3., p. 6: "Special names for the unit of power: the name volt–ampere (symbol ‘VA’) when it is used to express the apparent power of alternating electric current, and var (symbol ‘var’) when it is used to express reactive electric power."

•  This article incorporates public domain material from the General Services Administration document: "Federal Standard 1037C".