If the power factor meter indicates to the left, how is the load described?

When the power factor meter indicates to the left, it typically signifies that the load is lagging. This is associated with inductive loads, which consume reactive power and cause the phase angle between current and voltage to lag behind in the power factor. Thus, the load is described as lagging and inductive.

Inductive loads, such as motors and transformers, generally draw current that lags the voltage. This lagging characteristic is represented by a power factor less than one, leading to the meter pointing to the left on the scale. Understanding these relationships is crucial for managing power system efficiency, as lagging power factor can indicate that the system is utilizing more reactive power, potentially leading to higher energy costs and decreased system performance.