Battery Hours Formula:
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The Battery Hours calculation determines how long a battery will last based on its amp-hour (Ah) rating and the current draw (A) of the connected load.
The calculator uses the simple formula:
Where:
Explanation: This formula divides the total battery capacity by the current draw to estimate runtime in hours.
Details: Knowing battery runtime is essential for designing power systems, selecting appropriate batteries for applications, and estimating backup power duration.
Tips: Enter battery capacity in Ah and current draw in A. Both values must be positive numbers.
Q1: Is this calculation accurate for all battery types?
A: This provides a theoretical maximum. Actual runtime may vary based on battery chemistry, temperature, age, and discharge rate.
Q2: What's the difference between Ah and Wh?
A: Amp-hours (Ah) measure charge capacity, while watt-hours (Wh) measure energy capacity (Ah × voltage).
Q3: How does battery voltage factor into this?
A: Voltage isn't directly in this calculation but affects total energy (Wh = V × Ah). Different voltages with same Ah have different total energy.
Q4: What is Peukert's effect?
A: At higher discharge rates, batteries deliver less total capacity than rated. This calculation doesn't account for Peukert's effect.
Q5: Can I use this for lithium-ion batteries?
A: Yes, but lithium batteries often perform closer to their rated capacity than lead-acid across various discharge rates.