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DigiKey Battery Life Calculator Mah

Battery Life Equation:

\[ \text{Life (hours)} = \frac{\text{Battery Capacity (mAh)}}{\text{Consumption Current (mA)}} \]

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mA

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1. What is Battery Life Calculation?

The battery life calculation estimates how long a battery will last based on its capacity (in mAh) and the current consumption (in mA) of the device it powers. This is essential for designing and selecting batteries for electronic devices.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the battery life equation:

\[ \text{Life (hours)} = \frac{\text{Battery Capacity (mAh)}}{\text{Consumption Current (mA)}} \]

Where:

Explanation: The equation divides the total charge capacity of the battery by the rate at which charge is being consumed to determine how many hours the battery will last.

3. Importance of Battery Life Estimation

Details: Accurate battery life estimation helps in selecting the right battery for an application, ensuring devices meet their runtime requirements, and optimizing power consumption.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter battery capacity in mAh and current consumption in mA. Both values must be positive numbers. The calculator will compute the estimated runtime in hours.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What factors affect real-world battery life?
A: Temperature, discharge rate, battery age, and actual vs. nominal capacity can all affect real-world performance.

Q2: How accurate is this calculation?
A: This provides a theoretical maximum. Real-world results are typically 70-90% of calculated values due to various factors.

Q3: Can I use this for different battery types?
A: Yes, the calculation works for any battery type (Li-ion, NiMH, etc.) as long as you know its mAh rating.

Q4: What if my device has variable current?
A: Use the average current consumption over time for estimation, or calculate for different modes separately.

Q5: How do I extend battery life?
A: Use higher capacity batteries, reduce current consumption, implement power-saving modes, or optimize device usage patterns.

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