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| Power Factor |
In electrical engineering, the power factor measures how effectively electrical power is being used. It's a ratio of the real power (measured in watts) to the apparent power (measured in volt-amperes). A power factor can be leading, lagging, or unity.
The leading power factor occurs when the current leads the voltage. This usually happens when the load is capacitive, like in capacitor banks or certain types of lighting.
Having a leading power factor is often desirable for power systems because it can help counteract the effects of inductive loads, which usually cause a lagging power factor.
