What does the demand factor of a system represent?

The demand factor of a system is a crucial concept in electrical engineering that represents the portion of the full load that is expected to be in use at any given time. This factor takes into account that not all connected loads will be operating simultaneously at their maximum capacity. By calculating the demand factor, engineers can more accurately design systems to meet expected usage without overestimating the required service capacity.

Using the demand factor allows for more efficient design and reduces unnecessary costs by understanding the typical load conditions. This means that, although a system may have a maximum service capacity that could theoretically handle a full load, in practice, the demand factor reflects a more realistic scenario of average usage. Other definitions, such as the average usage over time or the safety margin needed for overload, do not accurately capture the specific essence of the demand factor, which is fundamentally about the expected portion of load in actual use relative to potential maximums.