Understanding battery usage and capacity
Sometimes I get a brain fart and just can't get out of my own way. What does battery AH ratings vs usage mean? I have (2) 6vdc gf batteries with 230ah each which means I have 230ah's to use if I...
Forum Discussion
Think of the battery as a water tank
Amp Hours are "how many gallons"
A battery with an amp hour rating of say 100, can produce 100/20 amps of power (5 amps) for 20 hours.. now if you draw power faster (Or slower) it's non-linier
(Faster means it runs down faster, so it can not deliver 10 amps for 10 hours and if you only draw 2.5 amps it may well last longer than 40 hours)
But we use Amp Hours as a "Gauge" of the battery capacity,, and to make it fair the 20 hour rate is used (Some companies like to use different rates, Wal*mart, for exampl labels their batteries at the "1 amp" rate Or how long will it last with a 1 amp draw (A group 24 will last over 100 hours at 1 amp, but at the 20 hour rate it's a 75AH battery give or take a few)
I know this is confusing,, Even to me somewhat.. But if you stick with the 20 hour rate (C/20) it works well...
Another way of looking at it
Amp Hours are good things. you want lots of them.
Amp Hours are "how many gallons"
A battery with an amp hour rating of say 100, can produce 100/20 amps of power (5 amps) for 20 hours.. now if you draw power faster (Or slower) it's non-linier
(Faster means it runs down faster, so it can not deliver 10 amps for 10 hours and if you only draw 2.5 amps it may well last longer than 40 hours)
But we use Amp Hours as a "Gauge" of the battery capacity,, and to make it fair the 20 hour rate is used (Some companies like to use different rates, Wal*mart, for exampl labels their batteries at the "1 amp" rate Or how long will it last with a 1 amp draw (A group 24 will last over 100 hours at 1 amp, but at the 20 hour rate it's a 75AH battery give or take a few)
I know this is confusing,, Even to me somewhat.. But if you stick with the 20 hour rate (C/20) it works well...
Another way of looking at it
Amp Hours are good things. you want lots of them.
