VA (Volt-Ampere)
A unit of apparent power in an electrical circuit, equal to the product of voltage and current, used in NEC load calculations.
Detailed Explanation
The NEC uses VA (volt-amperes) rather than watts for load calculations because it accounts for apparent power regardless of power factor. For resistive loads (like heaters), VA equals watts. For reactive loads (like motors), VA is greater than watts because of power factor. General lighting load is calculated at 3 VA per square foot for dwellings (NEC Table 220.12). Small-appliance circuits are 1,500 VA each. Understanding VA is essential for proper service sizing.
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