Calculate resistance (Ω) from V, I, P, or Z in DC and AC circuits using Ohm’s Law. Includes power factor handling for real-world accuracy. “Tendency of a body to oppose the passage of an electric current.” This is the fundamental definition of resistance: the property of a material that resists the flow of electric current. Accurately calculating resistance is essential for circuit design, troubleshooting, and energy efficiency analysis—whether in direct current (DC) or alternating current (AC) systems. Who Is This Tool For? Electrical engineers: for load modeling, protection coordination, and pre-simulation parameter estimation. Electricians and field technicians: to quickly verify equipment resistance and diagnose short circuits, ground faults, or insulation degradation. Students and electronics hobbyists: to understand practical applications of Ohm’s Law across different circuit conditions. Energy auditors and efficiency consultants: to evaluate operational efficiency using resistance and power factor relationships. Automation and control engineers: for precise impedance matching in sensor loops or PLC input modules. Typical Use Cases Scenario Application Motor winding inspection Measure voltage and current to back-calculate equivalent resistance and detect inter-turn short circuits. Heating element verification Given rated voltage and power (e.g., 220V / 1500W), compute theoretical resistance to assess aging or failure. Lighting system design Calculate equivalent resistance of LED drivers or incandescent loads to ensure voltage drop stays within limits. UPS and inverter testing In single-phase AC output, combine apparent power and power factor to isolate the resistive component of the load. Educational labs Help students visualize why V/I ≠ R in AC circuits due to reactance and phase shift. Calculation Principle The calculator is based on Ohm's Law and its derived forms. Resistance (R) can be computed using any of the following equivalent formulas: R = V / I R = P / (I^2) R = (V^2) / P R = Z / Power Factor Where: R: Resistance (Ω) V: Voltage (V) I: Current (A) P: Power (W) Z: Impedance (Ω) Power Factor: Ratio of active power to apparent power, ranging from 0 to 1 Note: In AC circuits, these formulas are only fully equivalent when the power factor equals 1 (purely resistive load). Parameter Details Current Type Direct Current (DC): Current flows steadily in one direction from positive to negative pole. Frequency is zero. In this case, impedance Z equals resistance R, and power factor is always 1. Alternating Current (AC): Current direction and amplitude vary periodically at a constant frequency. Single-phase system: Two conductors — one phase and one neutral (zero potential). Two-phase system: Two phase conductors; neutral may be present in three-wire configurations. Three-phase system: Three phase conductors; neutral is included in four-wire systems. This calculator currently supports DC and single-phase AC inputs. For three-phase systems, convert line-to-line voltage to phase voltage first: V_phase = V_line / sqrt(3), then treat as single-phase. Voltage Voltage is the difference in electric potential between two points. Input method depends on system type: Single-phase: Enter Phase-Neutral voltage. Two-phase / Three-phase: Enter Phase-Phase voltage. Example: A standard 220V household outlet is single-phase → input 220V. An industrial 380V supply is three-phase → for per-phase calculation, use 380 / sqrt(3) ≈ 220V. Current Current is the flow of electric charge through a conductor, measured in amperes (A). It is one of the most direct inputs for resistance calculation via R = V / I. Power Electric power is the rate at which energy is supplied or consumed by a component, measured in watts (W). In AC systems, distinguish between: Active Power (W): Real power that performs useful work. Reactive Power (VAR): Power used to establish magnetic/electric fields; does no real work. Apparent Power (VA): Vector sum of active and reactive power: S = sqrt(P^2 + Q^2). Important: The "P" in the formulas above refers to active power (W). If you input apparent power (VA), you must also provide the power factor; otherwise, results will be inaccurate. Power Factor Power Factor = cos(phi), where phi is the phase angle between voltage and current. Pure resistive load (e.g., heater, incandescent lamp): Power Factor = 1 Inductive or capacitive loads (e.g., motors, transformers): Power Factor < 1 (typically 0.7–0.95) In AC circuits, resistance is derived from impedance and power factor: R = Z * Power Factor = Z / (1 / Power Factor) Impedance Impedance (Z) is the total opposition to alternating current flow, combining resistance (R) and reactance (X), measured in ohms (Ω). The relationship is: Z = sqrt(R^2 + X^2) Therefore, resistance can only be extracted from impedance if the power factor (or phase angle) is known. People Also Ask (FAQ) Why can’t I use R = V / I directly in AC circuits? Because V / I gives you impedance (Z), not pure resistance (R). To get R, multiply by the power factor: R = (V / I) * cos(phi). Do I need to enter power factor for DC circuits? No. In DC, there is no phase shift, so power factor is always 1, and Z = R. Can I calculate resistance if I only know reactive power (VAR)? No. Resistance relates only to active power. You need either active power (W), or apparent power (VA) plus power factor. Can this tool be used for three-phase motors? Yes, but treat it per phase. Measure phase voltage and phase current, or convert line values using V_phase = V_line / sqrt(3), then apply single-phase formulas. Usage Tips Prefer voltage + current input: Most accurate and least prone to error. Ensure unit consistency: V in volts, I in amps, P in watts. Always enter power factor for AC: If omitted, the calculator assumes cos(phi) = 1, which overestimates resistance. Validate results: Example – a 1000W heater at 220V should have R ≈ (220^2)/1000 = 48.4 Ω. Large deviations suggest input errors. This tool adheres to international electrical standards (IEC 60050) and is suitable for education, engineering design, and field maintenance—helping users quickly and accurately determine the effective resistance in real-world circuits.