Choosing the right battery capacity for your specific needs involves considering several factors. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you determine the right battery capacity:
- What is Battery Voltage of your Device: Start by identifying the voltage requirements of the device or equipment for which you need a battery. The device should clearly state the voltage of the battery that can be attached. Typical user-changeable battery sizes are 12v, 24v or 48v.
- Check the Manufacturer’s Recommendations: Equipment manufacturers often provide information about the recommended battery capacity for their devices in the user manual.
- Calculate Power Consumption: Determine the device’s power consumption in watts. You can find this information in the device’s specifications or user manual. If it’s not provided, you may need to use a power meter or an online search to estimate it.
- Estimate Usage Time: Decide how long you want the device to operate on a single battery charge. This will depend on your specific usage patterns and needs. For example, if you want a small inverter to last for 6 hours for your Internet connection, that’s your usage time goal.
- Calculate Battery Capacity (in Ampere-Hours or Watt-Hours): If you multiply the power consumption in watts (from step 3) by the desired usage time (in hours) then you get the battery capacity in watt-hours (Wh). Divide the watt-hours (Wh) by the nominal voltage to calculate the battery capacity in ampere-hours (Ah). Example : 1280Wh / 12.8v = 100Ah.
- Select the Appropriate Battery: Now that you have the battery capacity in Wh, you can choose a battery with a capacity that meets or exceeds your calculated value. Battery capacity is typically rated in ampere-hours (Ah) and watt-hours (Wh) for Lithium rechargeable batteries.
- Consider Safety and Margin: It’s a good idea to choose a battery with a slightly higher capacity than your calculated value to account for variations in power consumption, and environmental factors, and to ensure your device doesn’t run out of power prematurely.
- Consider Dept of Drain: Lithium batteries can be drained 100% and our batteries have a warranty based on a minimum number of discharge cycles, but if you want to maximize the lifespan and cycle achievable, then a 50% depth of drain is recommended. Alternatively, 80% is an optimal point in terms of not buying an oversized battery and also ensuring you get a longer lifespan.
