Title: DOCA0005EN-12.pdf
An ideal, purely resistive load has no reactive components, so its power factor is one (PF = 1, or unity power factor). A purely inductive or capacitive load no resistive components, so its power factor is zero (PF = 0).True PFTrue power factor includes harmonic content.PF lead / lag conventionThe meter correlates leading power factor (PF lead) or lagging power factor (PF lag) with whether the current waveform is leading or lagging the voltage waveform.Current phase shift from voltageFor purely resistive loads the current waveform is in phase with the voltage waveform. For capacitive loads, current leads voltage. For inductive loads, current lags voltage.Current lead / lag and load typeCurrent and voltage in phase (resistive)Current leads voltage (capacitive)Current lags voltage (inductive)VVbIbVVbIbIaVVbIbIIaVaVaVaIc VcIVcIcIIcVcIa90°270°90°270°90°270°128DOCA0005EN-12iEM3000 series user manualDOCA0005EN-12