If the power factor meter indicates to the left, the load is what?

If the power factor meter indicates to the left, the load is what?

• A. Unity, resistive
• B. Leading, capacitive
• C. Lagging, inductive
• D. Balanced, reactive

Answer: (C)

Power factor is the phase relationship between voltage and current. When the meter shows to the left, the current lags the voltage. A lagging current is produced by inductive loads (like motors and transformers) that store energy in magnetic fields and draw reactive power. So the load is lagging and inductive. The other options don’t fit because unity, resistive would have no phase difference (not left), leading, capacitive would show to the right, and balanced reactive isn’t the directional reading this meter uses.

Power factor is the phase relationship between voltage and current. When the meter shows to the left, the current lags the voltage. A lagging current is produced by inductive loads (like motors and transformers) that store energy in magnetic fields and draw reactive power. So the load is lagging and inductive. The other options don’t fit because unity, resistive would have no phase difference (not left), leading, capacitive would show to the right, and balanced reactive isn’t the directional reading this meter uses.