What Is kVA?
When we talk about kVA (kilovolt-amps), we’re referring to the apparent power of a circuit or electrical system. In DC circuits, kVA and kW (kilowatts) are the same.
However, real power, or kW, will differ from apparent power in AC circuits.
In this case, kW is the amount of actual power that does the work, but kVA is merely a fraction of the power that can do the job, while the rest is regarded as the current.
How to Calculate kVA?
Calculating the kVA of a circuit is a simple formula and you only need to know the voltage and current.
To work out kVA, multiply the voltage by the current and divide by 1,000.
For a more practical example with values, let’s say in a given circuit, we have a voltage of 420V, and the current flowing is 32A. Our calculation will look like this:
kVA = (V x A) / 1,000
kVA = (420 x 32) / 1,000
kVA = (13,440) / 1,000
13.44 kVA
When you’re using a to see where most of your power is being drawn from in your home, you may notice that the heavier appliances will have ratings in kVA.
But how do we convert this to amperes? More importantly, what are amps and where do we use them in our solar system?
Final Thoughts
Knowing how to use a kVA to amps calculator can help you in your solar journey in many ways such as sizing and planning.
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