You've probably already heard of watts, the active power that generates the energy work itself, but for those who deal with electrical maintenance or generator services, there's another important measurement to get acquainted with: kVA.

It is important to understand what kVA is when planning your project. kVA (kilovolt-ampere) is the unit of measurement equivalent to 1000 volt-amperes, meaning 1 kVA = 1000 VA. Correct calculation is important to ensure an electrical system meets the demand required, even during peak hours. When using a generator or transformer, it is essential that these calculations are well-defined.

It is worth remembering that energy supply companies charge large consumers, such as industries and large businesses, for the calculation of both the apparent energy of the electrical system and the active power that will be used, and this is where KVA becomes even more important.

What is the difference between KVA and Watts?

Watts corresponds to a unit of power, which can also be related to the Joule - 1 Watt is equivalent to 1 Joule per second. Generally, Watts are directly linked to the power of electrical equipment and the capacity of electrical energy transformation for the performance of some work.

What is kV and Volts?

The Volt is related to electrical voltage, which is the difference in electrical potential of a given system. A technical explanation: the Volt is equivalent to the potential of electrical energy transmission measured in Joules, divided by the electrical charge measured in Coulombs between two distinct points.

A simpler way to understand it is to imagine two distinct points where there is some electrical voltage between them. 1 Volt means that each Coulomb of electric charge moving from one point to the other transmits exactly 1 Joule of electrical energy.