[RE-wrenches] power factor

[Kent Osterberg]

Todd

Sounds like everything is probably working normally. The power factor of 
the grid interactive inverter is probably close to 1.0 so when you are 
exporting power the power factor will go down. Actually, I'm assuming 
that the power factor is normally somewhat reasonable to begin with. It 
is possible, but unlikely, that the power factor without the solar 
system operational was nearly zero. The attached file demonstrates what 
is going on. In addition to the solar system exporting 1.0 kW, you had a 
load of 2.03 kW at a power factor of 0.65. The solar system reduced the 
load the utility meter sees to 1.03 kW, but it didn't change the kVAR.

Since they have provided you with a fancy meter, check out what it says 
just after you turn off the inverter.

Kent Osterberg
Blue Mountain Solar, Inc.
www.bluemountainsolar.com


On 5/7/2012 7:46 PM, toddcory at finestplanet.com wrote:
>
>     wrenches,
>
>
>     i have a question about my home's system. i was one of the first
>     net metered systems in our area, so the utility company installed
>     a fancy dual register meter which also displays kvar/power factor.
>
>
>     when selling 1 kW today the power factor was .40 and the kvar was
>     2.37.
>
>
>     this sounds horrible. question: is this a concern?
>
>
>     todd
>
>
>
>
>
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