What is likely to happen if an alternator’s load is entirely capacitive?

When an alternator's load is entirely capacitive, the behavior of current concerning voltage is influenced by the properties of capacitors in an AC circuit. In a capacitive load, current leads the voltage, indicating that the peak current occurs before the peak voltage in the cycle.

This leading current effect results from the way capacitors charge and discharge within the alternating current system. As the voltage rises, the capacitor begins to charge, and current flows to this load before the voltage has reached its peak value. Consequently, when depicted in a phasor diagram, the current vector points ahead of the voltage vector.

This characteristic is essential in understanding power factor, as a leading current can influence the overall stability and efficiency of the electrical system. It helps with reactive power management, especially in scenarios where the system aims to mitigate lagging power factors caused by inductive loads.