1. What is Battery Life Calculation?

The battery life calculation estimates how long a battery will last under a specific load. It's essential for designing power systems, selecting appropriate batteries, and planning energy usage.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• Voltage — Battery nominal voltage in volts (V)
• Amp-hours — Battery capacity in amp-hours (Ah)
• Watts — Power consumption of the load in watts (W)

Explanation: The formula converts the battery's energy capacity (voltage × amp-hours) to watt-hours, then divides by the load's power consumption to determine runtime.

3. Importance of Battery Life Estimation

Details: Accurate battery life estimation is crucial for system design, ensuring uninterrupted power supply, and optimizing battery selection for cost and performance.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the battery's nominal voltage (e.g., 12V for car battery), its amp-hour rating (e.g., 50Ah), and the load's power consumption in watts. All values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Is this calculation accurate for all battery types?
A: This provides theoretical maximum. Real-world factors like temperature, discharge rate, and battery age affect actual performance.

Q2: How does discharge rate affect battery life?
A: Higher discharge rates typically reduce effective capacity (Peukert effect), especially with lead-acid batteries.

Q3: Can I use this for lithium-ion batteries?
A: Yes, but lithium batteries often perform closer to theoretical capacity than lead-acid across various discharge rates.

Q4: Should I derate the calculated life?
A: For critical applications, consider multiplying the result by 0.7-0.8 for lead-acid or 0.8-0.9 for lithium to account for real-world factors.

Q5: How does battery voltage change during discharge?
A: Voltage drops as battery discharges. This calculation uses nominal voltage for simplicity.