What is mAh
mAh stands for milliampere-hour, a unit used to measure battery capacity. Essentially, it tells you how much current a battery can supply over a set period. In solar systems, understanding mAh is crucial because it helps you gauge how long your batteries will power your devices when the sun isn’t shining. Whether you’re running a small off-grid setup or a larger solar backup system, knowing the mAh rating lets you calculate the energy storage available and plan your system’s performance more accurately.
The relationship between Ah and mAh is straightforward:
1 Ah = 1,000 mAh
What is mWh?
mWh stands for milliwatt-hours, which is a unit that measures energy. It tells you how much energy a battery can deliver over time. Unlike mAh, which only shows the charge capacity, mWh takes into account the battery’s voltage, giving you a more complete picture of its actual energy storage.
In solar systems, knowing the mWh rating is crucial because it directly relates to how much usable energy you can store and then use when the sun isn’t shining. For instance, when planning your solar setup, you want to ensure that your battery bank can store enough energy to power your home or devices during cloudy days or at night. By looking at mWh, you can compare batteries more accurately, even if they have different voltages.
Convert mAh to mWh
The formula we’re going to use is:
mAh x V = mWh
Imagine you have a solar battery rated at 6000 mAh at 12 volts. Multiply 6000 mAh by 12 V, and you get:
6000 mAh x 12 V = 72,000 mWh
This means the battery can store 72,000 milliwatt-hours of energy, or 72 watt-hours (since 1000 mWh = 1 Wh).
Now, picture using this battery to power a 60W LED light in your off-grid setup. If that light runs for one hour, it uses 60 Wh of energy. With a 72 Wh battery, you’d have enough power for about 1.2 hours of continuous use before needing a recharge.
In a solar system, this calculation is crucial because it shows you exactly how much energy you have available. Whether you’re planning for off-grid power or simply need backup energy during cloudy days, knowing the mWh rating helps you size your system accurately and ensure it meets your energy demands.
Conclusion
This article guides you through converting milliamp hours (mAh) to milli wattage hours(mWh) —a key step in optimizing your solar power. It explains that mWh measures the energy your battery holds over time, which is crucial for determining how long your battery will last. By converting mAh to mWh, you can better understand your power consumption and ensure your solar system is sized correctly. This process not only helps you plan for efficient energy use but also aids in maximizing your system's performance for both residential and off-grid applications.
Article by
