Reactive power is the resultant power of an AC circuit when the current waveform is out of phase with the waveform of the voltage, and is the result of either capacitive or inductive loads.

The reactive power is one of the three types of power present in loaded circuits. Another name for it is "phantom power", due to the fact that it is not apparent where it goes.

Reactive loads like capacitors and inductors do not dissipate power which means, they are not powered, but they drop voltage and draw current. The power dissipated through this current draw is in the form of waste energy and is not actual work. For this reason, engineers have been looking for ways to lessen this.

Capacitors generate reactive power, while inductors consume it. When both a capacitor and an inductor are placed in a parallel connection, the current flowing through them cancels out.

Adding both of them in a circuit partially helps in the compensation for the reactive power consumed by the load.

For more information, the formula or other conversions you can use our free Reactive Power Converter.