🔍 Key Concepts

• Difference between real power (watts) and apparent power (volt-amperes) • How AC alternators are typically specified versus DC generators • Relationship among volts, amps, and power in AC systems (including power factor)

💭 Think About

• Ask yourself: when an alternator feeds an AC load, does its nameplate care about power factor, or just volts and amps? • Think about what quantity best represents the alternator’s maximum loading capacity: is it purely current, purely real power, or a combination of voltage and current? • Consider how large AC generators on ships are labeled on their data plates—what units do you usually see?

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify which unit measures apparent power rather than real power • Check which rating would stay valid even if the power factor changes in the connected loads • Confirm that the common practice for AC alternators is to nameplate them in voltage, frequency, and one specific power-related unit