Phase Imbalance Impact Analyzer — See What Unequal Currents Do to a System
Enter the three phase currents to quantify imbalance, identify the most heavily loaded phase and estimate the effect of unequal current on resistive losses.
Phase current inputs
How phase-current imbalance is measured
The analyzer calculates average phase current and the maximum deviation from that average. It also compares the actual sum of current squares with an ideal balanced case carrying the same average current on every phase.
Why I²R loss changes
Resistive loss in three equal phase paths is proportional to IA² + IB² + IC². When current moves away from an equal three-phase distribution, that sum increases for the same average current.
Worked example
For 90 A, 75 A and 105 A, the average is 90 A. The maximum deviation is 15 A, or 16.7% of average current.
What the analyzer does not determine
It does not establish whether a particular motor, transformer or standard permits the measured imbalance.
Limitations
Current measurements should represent comparable operating conditions. Transient or rapidly changing loads may require time-series analysis instead.
Frequently asked questions
Can one phase be zero?
Yes mathematically, although the resulting imbalance may be severe and should be investigated rather than treated as a normal operating case.
Does current imbalance equal voltage imbalance?
No. They are related but distinct measurements.
Why show loss increase?
It translates current inequality into an energy consequence under the resistance and operating-hour assumptions you entered.