[RE-wrenches] power factor

[Drake Chamberlin]

One question about power factor:

We know it is the ratio of the real power to the apparent power, and 
that most utility meters only register real power (watts).  Reactive 
power doesn't dissipate as heat like power loss through a resistor.

The question is:  What is the quantitative effect that reactive power 
has on a battery bank that is feeding loads through an inverter?  If 
the power factor is 56% (like a refrigerator that I want to replace) 
does that mean that only 56% of the power being drawn from the 
batteries is being used to power the refrigerator?.  If so, where 
does the rest of the power go?

Thanks,

Drake Chamberlin
Athens Electric
OH License 44810
CO License 3773
NABCEP TM  Certified PV Installer
Office - 740-448-7328
Mobile - 740-856-9648  
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20090819/3b7006a9/attachment-0003.html>