Using the Oscilloscope
3
Active Pwr
Active power (real or true power) is measured in watts (W) by averaging a portion
of power over a complete cycle of the AC waveform which produces a nett
transfer of energy in one direction. It is the power drawn by the electrical
resistance of a system.
Apparent Pwr
Apparent power is measured in volt-amperes (VA) and by the vector sum of the
active and reactive power. It is the voltage on an AC system multiplied by all the
current that flows in it.
Reactive Pwr
Reactive power is measured in volt-amperes reactive (VAR) and is the portion of
power stored and discharged by inductive motors, transformers, and solenoids.
Pwr Factor
Power factor is a measurement of how effectively the electrical power is being
used. A high power factor (near 1.0), indicates the efficient utilization of the
electrical power, while a low power factor indicates the poor utilization of the
electrical power. If the power factor falls below 0.90, some utility companies
charge a power factor penalty. Power factor is the ratio of real power (watts) and
the apparent power (volt-amperes). It is calculated by dividing the real power with
the apparent power.
Keysight recommends the U1583B AC current clamp for the power
NOTE
measurement.
Keysight U1610/20A User's Guide
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