Definition:
Peak Factor is defined as the ratio of maximum value to the R.M.S value of an alternating quantity. The alternating quantities can be voltage or current. The maximum value is the peak value or the crest value or the amplitude of the voltage or current.
The root mean square value is the amount of heat produced by the alternating current will be same when the direct supply of current is passed through the same resistance in the same given time.
Mathematically it is expressed as:
Where,
Im and Em are the maximum value of the current and the voltage respectively, and Ir.m.s and Er.m.s are the roots mean square value of the alternating current and the voltage respectively.
For the current varying sinusoidally, the peak factor is given as: