1. What is IoT Battery Life Calculation?

The IoT Battery Life Calculation estimates how long an IoT device will operate on a single battery charge based on its battery capacity and average current consumption. This is crucial for designing and maintaining IoT systems.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the basic battery life equation:

Where:

• \( \text{Battery Capacity} \) — Total charge stored in the battery (milliamp-hours)
• \( \text{Average Current} \) — Device's typical current draw (milliamps)

Explanation: The equation divides the total available charge by the rate of consumption to determine operational time.

3. Importance of Battery Life Estimation

Details: Accurate battery life estimation helps in planning maintenance schedules, optimizing power consumption, and selecting appropriate battery sizes for IoT deployments.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter battery capacity in mAh and average current in mA. Both values must be positive numbers. For best results, measure current consumption under typical operating conditions.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How accurate is this calculation?
A: This provides a theoretical maximum. Real-world results may vary due to temperature, battery age, and current fluctuations.

Q2: Should I use nominal or actual battery capacity?
A: For conservative estimates, use actual measured capacity which is typically 10-20% less than nominal.

Q3: How to measure average current?
A: Use a multimeter in series with the power supply, measuring over a full operation cycle.

Q4: Does this account for sleep modes?
A: No, you should calculate average current including all operational modes and their durations.

Q5: What about battery self-discharge?
A: This calculation doesn't account for self-discharge, which can be significant for long deployments.