Load Types Page

RESISTIVE LOAD (heaters and incandescent lights)

The voltage and current peaks coincide and are therefore in phase and the power factor is in unity.

INDUCTIVE LOAD (Motors and transformers)

With an inductive load the current waveform is lagging behind the voltage waveform, therefore, the voltage peaks and current peaks are not in phase. The amount of phase delay is given by the cosine of the angel (Cos) between the vectors representing voltage and current.

CAPACITIVE LOAD (Capacitors, wiring, cable)

The capacitive load has a current waveform which is leading the voltage waveform, therefore the voltage peaks and current peaks are not in phase. The amount of phase delay is given by the cosine of the angle between the vectors representing voltage and current.