What factor increases as the power factor decreases in load calculations?

When considering load calculations, the relationship between power factor and amperage is crucial. The power factor is a measure of how effectively electrical power is being converted into useful work output, expressed as a ratio between actual power (watts) and apparent power (volt-amperes).

As the power factor decreases, it indicates that more of the electrical energy is being wasted as reactive power instead of being converted to useful work. To maintain the same real power (watts), a lower power factor means that the system needs a higher amount of apparent power (volt-amperes) to deliver that same amount of real power. Since power (in watts) is the product of voltage (in volts) and current (in amperes), if you keep the voltage constant, a higher apparent power will require a higher current (amperage) to achieve the same wattage.

This relationship clearly shows that when the power factor goes down, the amperage required for a given amount of wattage increases. Therefore, maintaining an efficient power factor is important not only for energy efficiency but also for determining appropriate conductor sizes and load handling capabilities in electrical systems.