Power factor determination

An apparatus for determining a power factor for a power line, comprising:

• at least one feedback element for coupling to a power line that delivers electrical power from an Alternating Current (AC) source to a load and for providing a first feedback voltage that represents a voltage provided by the power line;
• at least one further feedback element for coupling to the power line for providing a further feedback voltage that represents a current provided by the power line;
• at least one impedance element, having an electrical impedance, arranged whereby a first potential difference across the impedance element that is responsive to a potential difference between the first feedback voltage and the further feedback voltage indicates a characteristic associated with a power factor for the power line;
• a control unit that provides at least one control signal responsive to a characteristic;
• and
• at least one capacitive element and/or at least one inductive element selectively connectable to the power line responsive to the control signal.

A method for indicating at least one characteristic associated with a power factor for a power line, comprising the steps of:

• providing at least one first feedback voltage that represents a voltage provided by a power line that delivers electrical power from an Alternating Current (AC) source to a load;
• providing at least one further feedback voltage that represents a current provided by the power line;
• and
• providing at least one first potential difference across at least one impedance element, that has an electrical impedance, responsive to a potential difference between the first feedback voltage and the further feedback voltage, whereby the first potential difference is indicative of at least one characteristic associated with a power factor for the power line.