When we are talking about batteries, there are several values we take a look at for comparing them. These various aspects include battery capacity, voltage rating, output, and battery type. However, the most common elements that people consider are the output, capacity, and battery type.
One of the reasons behind this is that people are going for the most suitable and applicable battery for their needs. But one of the most common misconceptions on cells always causes people to get the wrong one. It is the thought that batteries with higher amp hours can deliver more power.
So, does a higher AH battery give more power? The quick answer is NO! This is because ampere-hours is a unit of measure for the capacity of a cell. Generally, ampere-hours refer to runtime, so the more amp hours a battery has, the longer it can sufficiently deliver the amount of power indicated on the battery.
If you are looking for a battery that can run for a long time, then the ones with higher amp hours and higher energy density are your best choice.
On the other hand, if you want power, you have to keep in mind that the higher the voltage, the more power that battery can offer. This only means that batteries with higher voltage ratings are the more powerful ones.
This also clearly shows that a battery’s ampere-hour grade is entirely different from the power it can deliver because it is determined by its voltage rating. Going back to the question, a battery with a higher amp hour rating won’t give more power.
If you are currently reading this article, then you probably would like to know if a battery with a higher ampere-hour rating can deliver more power. Then, you have the answer to your question. However, you may wanna stick around a bit longer because this article will also help you learn more about batteries.
Here, I will be imparting some of the essential knowledge that you have to learn about power cells. I will be providing you the vital information that you have to know regarding batteries.
Understanding the Ampere Hour Rating of a Battery
To understand our answer to the question better, I thought that it is vital to first understand what an amp hour rating of the battery stands for. So, in this part, I will be helping you know what a battery’s ampere-hour rating is.
In definition, a battery’s ampere-hour rating refers to its reserve capacity or total capacity. This means that this value indicates how long a battery can support its load without being charged. It means that the higher the amp hour rating of the battery, to longer it can power the load connected to it without recharging.
Ampere hour is also defined as the amount of charge in a power cell that will allow a current of one-ampere flow in one hour. Or, it can also be interpreted as the amount of charge that the battery can deliver in a certain amount of time.
It is typically specified as 100 amp hour at 20 hours. This specification means that the battery can deliver up to 5 amperes of current for 20 hours without being recharged.
Most Common Benefit of a Battery With Higher Amp Hours
A higher ampere-hour rating offers a lot of benefits in various applications. Due to the longer runtime batteries with more amp hours offer, these make them very advantageous to a variety of applications.
To understand this better, let’s take a look at the most common benefits a battery with higher amp hours has to offer.
1. The Longer they Can Support a Power Grid
Getting a battery that has a higher amp hour rating is very beneficial to users, especially if the battery is going to be used for an off-grid supply. The most obvious and the most significant benefit of using a battery with higher capacity is that it can support the loads connected to it for a more extended period.
This is why most cells with deep cycle capabilities and higher capacities are commonly used for off-grid applications. If a battery has more energy density and can store more power, it will have more reserve capacity.
The battery will have an ample amount of energy that it can deliver for longer amounts of time. This is very beneficial because it can support the loads longer, giving them more runtime. Longer runtime that will eventually lead to more productivity of the electronic devices.
2. Better Cordless Tool Application
Another great benefit of batteries with a higher amp hour rating is that they are more beneficial in cordless power tools. Since cordless tools are considered as one of the trends in both the DIY community as well as the professional industry.
Tool manufacturers prefer to use power cells with a higher ampere-hour rating. This is because batteries with higher energy density or capacity can offer longer runtime to cordless tools that mainly run through their batteries.
It can simply be put as the longer these devices run, the more productive they can be. Higher amp-hour batteries boost the productivity of cordless tools since they will have the ability to operate in longer periods of time.
Determining How Long a Cell Will Last With Amp Hours
The ampere-hour rating of a battery will only help you compare power cells. It will not help you determine how long a particular power cell will last. This is based on two logical reasons.
One is that the amp hour rating is based on a specific time period, as well as the amount of current drawn from the battery. In relation to that, the Peukert’s Law will make the simple calculations not accurate due to impracticality.
Another logical reason is that, if we are talking about automotive batteries, the current drawn by a vehicle will not be consistent or constant. This is because a vehicle’s power grid is very dynamic, and it may change daily. Due to this inconsistency, it will be very difficult to determine how long a car battery will last.
Due to these two logical reasons, a battery’s ampere hours rating is not applicable factor that can be used for determining how long a battery will last. Figuring out the exact amount of hours that a battery will last will be very tricky due to those reasons, which are very much logical. All that the amp hour rating can do is to help us compare batteries.
Talking About a Battery’s Power and Its Relation With Voltage
As mentioned earlier, a battery’s power is directly related to its voltage rating, NOT with its amp hour rating. When we talk about voltage, it refers to the potential of the battery.
In layman’s term, the speed of how the electrons flow within the battery. Power is defined as a function voltage determined by multiplying voltage with the amount of current or electrons.
Power is usually measured or quantified in Watts, which is defined as a battery’s ability to perform work. The more voltage a power source has, the more power it can deliver, given that the amount of current the power source can deliver is constant.
To calculate for power, the mathematical formula you will use is Watts = Volts x Amperes.
Final Thoughts
Now, there is the essential information that you have to learn and understand about power cells. This information will allow you to determine the difference between the capacity of a battery as well as its power.
To be clear, ampere-hours is used to measure a battery’s reserve capacity, NOT its power output. If you are looking for a battery that offers longer runtime, go for the ones with a higher amp hour rating, and if you are looking to get a unit that can deliver more power, look for the ones with the higher voltage rating.
