Description
Return quadrant 1-4 from realPower/reactivePower signs, or zero on either axis.
Sinusoidal electrical calculations need a common frequency, phase reference and RMS or peak convention. Phasor sums, complex power and composite RMS describe different operations; a sign label alone does not establish a physical connection or waveform.
Return quadrant 1-4 from realPower/reactivePower signs, or zero on either axis.
When to use this tool
Use Electricity: Ac Power Leading Lagging Quadrant when checking a stated phasor, power or RMS convention.
How to use the tool and how it works
- Enter realPower, reactivePower. Use the units and conventions below.
- Run the tool. Correct any format, range, or cross-field input error before interpreting the output.
- Read result. Expand result to inspect the returned fields.
Return quadrant 1-4 from realPower/reactivePower signs, or zero on either axis. reactiveSign labels negative, zero or positive. loadConventionLabel is not-positive-load when realPower <= 0, otherwise unity for zero reactive power, lagging for positive and leading for negative.1
| Input field | Meaning and units | Accepted input |
|---|---|---|
| realPower | Real Power | Required. Finite number. |
| reactivePower | Reactive Power | Required. Finite number. |
| Output field | Interpretation | Returned shape |
|---|---|---|
| result | Object containing the named calculated members below. | Required. Object. |
| result.quadrant | Quadrant | Calculated result member: number. |
| result.reactiveSign | Reactive Sign | Calculated result member: string. |
| result.loadConventionLabel | Load Convention Label | Calculated result member: string. |
{
"input": {
"realPower": 3,
"reactivePower": -2
},
"output": {
"result": {
"quadrant": 4,
"reactiveSign": "negative",
"loadConventionLabel": "leading"
}
}
}Limitations and assumptions
- Labels assume the positive-load reactive convention and exact zero comparisons. They do not infer waveform phase, power factor magnitude or actual power-flow references.
- Outputs are nested inside result. Inputs must satisfy both the field types and the cross-field conditions above. Invalid input causes an error; a successful false flag or documented placeholder is a different result.
- Numeric calculations use binary floating point unless exact decimal-integer arithmetic is explicitly stated. No hidden measurement tolerance or decimal rounding is added; nonfinite or out-of-contract results are rejected. Numeric signed-zero results are exported as zero.
Alternative or Complementary methods
Use compatible measured waveforms and a complete circuit or harmonic model when signals are distorted, references differ or practical limits matter.
References
Similar or alternative tools
- Complex Power One Harmonic Cross Term
apparent = their product; active = apparent*cos(phaseDifference); reactive = apparent*sin(phaseDifference), with phaseDifference in radians.
- Electricity: Complex Power Real Imaginary Pair
Return realPower = voltageReal*currentReal+voltageImaginary*currentImaginary and reactivePower = voltageImaginary*currentReal-voltageReal*currentImaginary.