Everything about Power Rating totally explained
In
electrical engineering, the
power rating of a device is a guideline set by the manufacturer as a maximum
power to be used with that device. This limit is usually set somewhat lower than the level where the device will be damaged, to allow a margin of
safety.
The power rating can actually mean a couple different things. In devices which primarily dissipate electric power or convert it into mechanical power, such as
resistors,
electric motors, and
speakers, the power rating given is usually the maximum power that can be safely dissipated by the device. The usual reason for this limit is
heat, although in certain
electromechanical devices, particularly speakers, it's to prevent mechanical damage. When heat is the limiting factor, the power rating is easily calculated. First, the amount of heat that can be safely dissipated by the device,
is the nominal operating voltage. Note that the power rating in this case is an
apparent power.
Power ratings are usually given in
watts for real power and
volt-amperes for apparent power, although for devices intended for use in large power systems, both may be given in a
per-unit system. As the power rating depends on the method of cooling, different ratings may be specified for air cooling, water cooling, etc.
Exceeding the power rating of a device by more than the margin of safety set by the manufacturer usually does damage to the device by causing its operating temperature to exceed safe levels. In
semiconductors, irreparable damage can occur very quickly. Exceeding the power rating of most devices for a very short period of time isn't harmful, although doing so regularly can sometimes cause cumulative damage.
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