Electrical Calculations in South Africa
In South Africa voltage is generally measured 230Volt AC (alternating current) at a frequency of 50Hz (pulses per second) phase to neutral in single phase installations and 400Volt AC at 50Hz phase to phase in three phase installations.
For the purposes of the calculations on this page we will be using 60Ampere as our load.
Take note that there are still suburbs & towns in South Africa that use 220Volt AC single phase and 380Volt AC three phase. Find out from your local authorities what voltage is supplied to your specific town or suburb before you make the calculationGeneral Electrical Calculations - Single Phase
| Volts | = | Watt ÷ Ampere |
| Volts | = | Ampere x Ohms |
| Ampere | = | Volts ÷ Ohms |
| Ampere | = | Watt ÷ Volts |
| Ohms | = | Volts ÷ Ampere |
| Volt-Ampere (VA or Watt) | = | Volts x Ampere |
Calculate KVA (Kilovolt-Ampere)
Single Phase
| KVA | = | (Volts x Ampere) ÷ 1000 |
| = | (230 x 60) ÷ 1000 | |
| = | 13.8KvA |
Three Phase
When calculating KvA in a 3-phase installation a factor of 1.73 is introduced (√3 = 1.73)
| KVA | = | (Volts x Ampere x 1.73) ÷ 1000 |
| = | (400 x 60 x 1.73) ÷ 1000 | |
| = | 41520 ÷ 1000 | |
| = | 41.52 KVA |
Calculate Ampere when KVA is known
Three Phase
| KVA | = | (Volts x Ampere x 1.73) ÷ 1000 |
| 41.52 KVA | = | (400 x A x 1.73) ÷ 1000 |
| 41.52 x 1000 | = | 400 x A x 1.73 |
| 41520 ÷ (400 x 1.73) | = | Ampere |
| 41520 ÷ 692 | = | 60 Ampere |
Calculate KW (Kilowatt)
Calculating Kilowatts is slightly more complicated in that the formula includes a value for power factor. The power factor is a nebulous but nevertheless required value that is different for each individual electrical device. If it is not specifically known you may use a value of 0.85 which is generally accepted to be a good average and we will use it in the calculations below.
Single Phase
| KW | = | (Volts x Ampere x Power Factor) ÷ 1000 |
| = | (230 x 60 x 0.85) ÷ 1000 | |
| = | 11730 ÷ 1000 | |
| = | 11.73 KW |
Three Phase
| KW | = | (Volts x Ampere x Power Factor x 1.73) ÷ 1000 |
| = | (400 x 60 x 0.85 x 1.73) ÷ 1000 | |
| = | 35292 ÷ 1000 | |
| = | 35.29 KW |
Convert Between Kilowatt and KVA
The only difference between KW and KvA is the power factor. KvA is always higher than KW.
KW ÷ 0.85 = KVAKVA x 0.85 = KW