How To Measure Battery Capacity-Methods, Protection, And Buying?

It is true that with time, technology has evolved at a very rapid pace. Thankfully we are no longer required to depend upon power stations in order to charge any electronic device. Batteries have made our lives easier as they are fast, economical, and easy to access and work significantly well also. But as there are different kinds of batteries available in the market right now, therefore, it might be a tough task for you to figure out certain important answers. Here we have answered some of the important topics when it comes to batteries.

How do you calculate battery capacity?

One of the most confusing aspects of batteries is measuring their capacities. When it comes to battery capacity, it means how much energy is stored in the cell. The power capacity of the battery is generally expressed in Watt-hours with the symbol of Wh. In simple terms, Watt-hour is the amount of voltage (V) that a battery offers; it is further multiplied by how much current, i.e., Amps the battery can offer for a particular amount of time (it is generally noted in terms of hours). Therefore, it sums up to the following formula:

Voltage (V) X Current (Amps) X Hours= WH

Now it is important here to note that due to the internal chemistry of the battery, the voltage in the battery remains almost fixed. Alkaline, lead-acid, lithium and much more come into the internal chemistry of the battery. The Amps X Hour measurement keeps changing, which is generally printed on the back or side of the battery; it is expressed in Ah or mAh, note that 1000mAh = 1Ah. Therefore, in order to find the watt-hours of a battery, you simply have to multiply the mAh by the nominal voltage amount.

Let's understand process this with an example, suppose there is a 3 V nominal battery that has 1 Amp-hour capacity, it means it has 3 WH of battery capacity. However, it is vital here to note that the amount of current that can be drawn from a battery is often limited as well.

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How do you protect battery capacity?

To have a better understanding of the protection of battery capacity, let's take the example of mobile batteries as they are generally Lithium-ion batteries. Today, almost every phone runs on a lithium-ion battery because of its vast advantages, but it is true that the battery capacity of mobile degrades with time.

The reason behind this is that every time a lithium-ion battery charges or discharges, it loses how much energy it can hold over a period of time. Therefore, in order to keep any battery's capacity protected, there are few tips that you can consider:

?Ensure that your battery doesn't go to 0% or 100%

There are people who believe in the notion that one of the best ways to keep the battery life long-lasting is to charge it completely and discharge it to its optimal level. Well, it is not true in most cases of batteries. Charging and discharging to their optimal levels results in stressing the batteries, and ultimately the lifespan of the battery reduces.

?Do not charge the battery beyond 100%

Most people leave their battery to charge overnight, but you have to avoid it completely because it reduces the lifespan of the battery. This is because when the battery is kept for charging even after reaching 100%, it experiences higher stress and load from the higher voltage.

Along with this issue, a lot of heat builds up, which is not good for your battery's health. Therefore, always make sure that you don't put your batteries for overnight charging. Also, if you are unable to do so, then make sure that the battery is kept in a cool and well-ventilated area. This will allow the heat to dissipate at a much faster rate.

?Charge slowly:

There is no point of argument in the fact that now with fast charging technologies, you can save a lot of time charging your batteries. But if you wish to maximize the battery capacity, then charge it slowly. Keep the fast-charging technology for the time of emergency situations.

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How do you buy a good battery with high capacity?

It is pivotal here to remember that no one particular battery perfectly fits every application. In order to select and buy the right battery for your desired application, you need to identify significant battery metrics and trade them against several battery options. There are different battery aspects that you need to consider while choosing a good battery with higher capacity, such as:

• Flexibility

• Safety
  

• Cycle Life
  

• Energy Density
  

• Temperature Range
  

• Commercial Availability
  

• Power Density
  

• Thickness of The Battery
  

• Operational Life
  

• Voltage
  

• Shelf Life of The Battery
  

• Cost
  

However, there are other important considerations as well, which you need to make before buying a good battery; some of them are mentioned below here:

?Primary vs. Secondary:

Determine whether you need a primary battery, i.e., single-use battery, or a secondary battery, i.e., rechargeable battery for your desired application. Devices that have occasional use, such as a toy or a flashlight, can use a primary battery. On the other hand, devices such as hearing aids, watches, pacemakers, etc., should use a secondary battery. If the battery is used continuously in a device for a long period of time, such as in a cell phone, laptop, or smartwatch, secondary batteries are more desirable.

?Energy vs. Power:

As mentioned earlier, battery capacity is measured and denoted in mAh or Ah. When different batteries containing different internal chemistries are compared, then it is appropriate to compare the energy content as well. It will help you in buying a good battery that has a higher capacity. The manufacturers of the battery mention the capacity at a given temperature, cut-off voltage, and discharge rate on the battery itself. You can consider these three important aspects, along with the battery draining rate, before making the final decision for the battery.