THE LOAD CHARACTERISTICSConnected Loads : The aggregate capacity of all electric devices (lamps, applicances, equipments etc. connected by aconsumer to the supply system is called connected load. Maximum demand : The total of loads used at a time energy and this various from hour to hour and the maximum that will be incident some point of time is called the instantaneous maximum demand. However, the maximum demand in a continuous period of 15 or ! minutes is ta"en as #$aximum %emand# for billing purpose where $% is a billing parameter. Demand factor : The ratio of the maximum demand to the total connected load is called the demand factor. Load factor : The load factor is the ratio of the average load or demand for a period of time to the maximum demand during that period. Diversity : &oad diversity is the difference between the sum of the maximum demands of two or more individual consumers' loads and the maximum demand of the combined loads. Diversity factor : The diversity factor is the ratio of the sum of maximum demands of each of the component loads to the maximum demand of the load as a whole. This is the most important factor for economical planning and design of distribution facilities. Coincidence factor : The coincidence factor is the ratio of maximum coincident total demand of a group of consumers to the sum of the maximum demands of each of the consumers. Utiisation factor : The ratio of the maximum demand of a system to the rated capacity of the system is "nown as theutilisation factor. The factor indicates the degree to which a system is being loaded during the load pea" with respect to its capacity. The rated capacity of a system is usually determined by thermal rating coupled with the voltage drop. !o"er factor : The ratio of power (in watts( to the product of voltage and current (in volt amperes( is called the power factor. )t is a measure of the relation between current and voltage out of phase with each other brought about by reactance in the circuit (including the device served(. )nfrastructure must be designed to carry the full current and the losses vary with square of the current. *oltage drop isproportional to the current. +i,es of Transformer, conductor cable, fuses, switches etc., are all based on values of current. -ach type of loads operate at different power. .or example incandescent lamps and heaters wor" at unity power factor where as induction motors run at about !./ power factor.