Battery Capacity Formula:
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Battery capacity in ampere-hours (Ah) determines how much energy a solar battery can store. It's crucial for sizing your solar power system to meet your energy needs.
The calculator uses the formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula converts watt-hours (energy) to ampere-hours (capacity) by accounting for system voltage.
Details: Proper battery sizing ensures your solar system can meet energy demands during periods without sunlight and prevents over-discharge which can damage batteries.
Tips: Enter your total daily energy consumption in watt-hours and your system voltage. Both values must be positive numbers.
Q1: How do I determine my daily Wh needs?
A: Sum the wattage × hours of use for all devices you want to power, then add 20-30% for inefficiencies.
Q2: What's the typical voltage for home solar systems?
A: Small systems use 12V, medium systems 24V, and larger systems 48V.
Q3: Should I add a safety margin to the calculated capacity?
A: Yes, it's recommended to multiply the result by 1.2-1.5 to account for depth of discharge limits and inefficiencies.
Q4: How does temperature affect battery capacity?
A: Cold temperatures reduce available capacity - you may need to increase capacity by 20-30% in cold climates.
Q5: What's the difference between Ah and Wh?
A: Ah measures charge capacity, while Wh measures energy capacity (Ah × V = Wh).