1. What is the Series Parallel Battery Life Calculator?

The Series Parallel Battery Life Calculator estimates how long a battery bank will last under a specific load. It's useful for designing power systems with batteries connected in series, parallel, or series-parallel configurations.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the battery life equation:

Where:

• \( \text{Total Ah} \) — Total amp-hour capacity of the battery bank
• \( \text{Total V} \) — Total voltage of the battery bank
• \( \text{Load W} \) — Power consumption of the load in watts

Explanation: The equation calculates how long the battery can supply the required power by dividing the total energy capacity (Ah × V = Wh) by the power demand (W).

3. Importance of Battery Life Calculation

Details: Accurate battery life estimation is crucial for designing reliable power systems, sizing battery banks appropriately, and ensuring backup power lasts as needed.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the total amp-hour capacity of your battery bank, the total voltage, and the load power in watts. All values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How do I calculate total Ah for parallel batteries?
A: For parallel batteries, sum the Ah ratings of all batteries (e.g., two 100Ah batteries in parallel = 200Ah total).

Q2: How do I calculate total V for series batteries?
A: For series batteries, sum the voltages of all batteries (e.g., two 12V batteries in series = 24V total).

Q3: Does this account for battery efficiency?
A: No, this is a theoretical maximum. Real-world life will be shorter due to efficiency losses (typically 80-90% of calculated value).

Q4: What depth of discharge (DOD) should I use?
A: For lead-acid, typically 50% DOD is recommended. For Li-ion, 80% is common. Multiply result by DOD percentage for practical runtime.

Q5: How does temperature affect battery life?
A: Cold temperatures reduce available capacity. Below freezing, capacity can drop 20-50% depending on battery chemistry.