The Volt-Ampere Reactive (VAR) is a fascinating unit that captures the dynamic aspect of AC power systems. While watts measure the actual power consumed or produced, VAR quantifies the reactive power, which is the portion of electricity that does not perform any real work but oscillates between the source and the load. This reactive component is crucial in systems with inductive or capacitive loads, like motors, transformers, and capacitors, where the phase difference between current and voltage plays a pivotal role.
An interesting implication of reactive power is its significant impact on power quality and efficiency in electrical grids. Managing VAR efficiently can help optimize the grid’s capacity, reduce losses, and stabilize voltage levels, which are vital for the reliability of modern power systems. Understanding VAR provides deeper insights into the workings of complex electrical networks and the ways to harness them more effectively.
Millivolt-Ampere Reactive (mVAR) is a lesser-known unit often used in electrical engineering to measure reactive power in smaller-scale applications. Unlike active power, which does the actual work, reactive power is essential for maintaining voltage stability and transferring energy in AC circuits. Reactive power exists due to the phase difference between current and voltage in inductive or capacitive loads, causing energy to oscillate between source and load rather than being consumed.
The “milli” prefix denotes one-thousandth, making 1 mVAR equal to 0.001 VARs. Understanding and managing reactive power at this scale is crucial in sensitive electronics or communication systems, where even minor fluctuations can affect performance. It highlights the delicate balance within power systems that engineers must maintain for efficiency and reliability.
| Volt-Amperes Reactive | Millivolt-Amperes Reactive |
|---|---|
0
VAR
|
0
mVAR
|
10
VAR
|
10000
mVAR
|
20
VAR
|
20000
mVAR
|
30
VAR
|
30000
mVAR
|
40
VAR
|
40000
mVAR
|
50
VAR
|
50000
mVAR
|
60
VAR
|
60000
mVAR
|
70
VAR
|
70000
mVAR
|
80
VAR
|
80000
mVAR
|
90
VAR
|
90000
mVAR
|
100
VAR
|
100000
mVAR
|
110
VAR
|
110000
mVAR
|
120
VAR
|
120000
mVAR
|
130
VAR
|
130000
mVAR
|
140
VAR
|
140000
mVAR
|
150
VAR
|
150000
mVAR
|
160
VAR
|
160000
mVAR
|
170
VAR
|
170000
mVAR
|
180
VAR
|
180000
mVAR
|
190
VAR
|
190000
mVAR
|
200
VAR
|
200000
mVAR
|
210
VAR
|
210000
mVAR
|
220
VAR
|
220000
mVAR
|
230
VAR
|
230000
mVAR
|
240
VAR
|
240000
mVAR
|
250
VAR
|
250000
mVAR
|
260
VAR
|
260000
mVAR
|
270
VAR
|
270000
mVAR
|
280
VAR
|
280000
mVAR
|
290
VAR
|
290000
mVAR
|
300
VAR
|
300000
mVAR
|
310
VAR
|
310000
mVAR
|
320
VAR
|
320000
mVAR
|
330
VAR
|
330000
mVAR
|
340
VAR
|
340000
mVAR
|
350
VAR
|
350000
mVAR
|
360
VAR
|
360000
mVAR
|
370
VAR
|
370000
mVAR
|
380
VAR
|
380000
mVAR
|
390
VAR
|
390000
mVAR
|
400
VAR
|
400000
mVAR
|
410
VAR
|
410000
mVAR
|
420
VAR
|
420000
mVAR
|
430
VAR
|
430000
mVAR
|
440
VAR
|
440000
mVAR
|
450
VAR
|
450000
mVAR
|
460
VAR
|
460000
mVAR
|
470
VAR
|
470000
mVAR
|
480
VAR
|
480000
mVAR
|
490
VAR
|
490000
mVAR
|
500
VAR
|
500000
mVAR
|
510
VAR
|
510000
mVAR
|
520
VAR
|
520000
mVAR
|
530
VAR
|
530000
mVAR
|
540
VAR
|
540000
mVAR
|
550
VAR
|
550000
mVAR
|
560
VAR
|
560000
mVAR
|
570
VAR
|
570000
mVAR
|
580
VAR
|
580000
mVAR
|
590
VAR
|
590000
mVAR
|
600
VAR
|
600000
mVAR
|
610
VAR
|
610000
mVAR
|
620
VAR
|
620000
mVAR
|
630
VAR
|
630000
mVAR
|
640
VAR
|
640000
mVAR
|
650
VAR
|
650000
mVAR
|
660
VAR
|
660000
mVAR
|
670
VAR
|
670000
mVAR
|
680
VAR
|
680000
mVAR
|
690
VAR
|
690000
mVAR
|
700
VAR
|
700000
mVAR
|
710
VAR
|
710000
mVAR
|
720
VAR
|
720000
mVAR
|
730
VAR
|
730000
mVAR
|
740
VAR
|
740000
mVAR
|
750
VAR
|
750000
mVAR
|
760
VAR
|
760000
mVAR
|
770
VAR
|
770000
mVAR
|
780
VAR
|
780000
mVAR
|
790
VAR
|
790000
mVAR
|
800
VAR
|
800000
mVAR
|
810
VAR
|
810000
mVAR
|
820
VAR
|
820000
mVAR
|
830
VAR
|
830000
mVAR
|
840
VAR
|
840000
mVAR
|
850
VAR
|
850000
mVAR
|
860
VAR
|
860000
mVAR
|
870
VAR
|
870000
mVAR
|
880
VAR
|
880000
mVAR
|
890
VAR
|
890000
mVAR
|
900
VAR
|
900000
mVAR
|
910
VAR
|
910000
mVAR
|
920
VAR
|
920000
mVAR
|
930
VAR
|
930000
mVAR
|
940
VAR
|
940000
mVAR
|
950
VAR
|
950000
mVAR
|
960
VAR
|
960000
mVAR
|
970
VAR
|
970000
mVAR
|
980
VAR
|
980000
mVAR
|
990
VAR
|
990000
mVAR
|
1000
VAR
|
1000000
mVAR
|
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