What is a Peak Factor?
Definition
The Peak Factor is defined as the ratio of the maximum value to the root - mean - square (R.M.S) value of an alternating quantity. The alternating quantity can be either voltage or current. The maximum value refers to the peak value, crest value, or amplitude of the voltage or current. The root - mean - square value is the value of direct current that, when passed through the same resistance for the same given time, produces the same amount of heat as the alternating current.
Mathematically, it is expressed as:
Where,
Imand Em are the maximum values of current and voltage respectively, while Ir.m.s and Er.m.s are the root-mean-square values of alternating current and voltage respectively.
For a sinusoidally varying current, the peak factor is given by:
