Battery Life Calculator

What is Battery Life?

Battery life refers to the duration a battery-powered device can operate before it needs to be recharged or the battery replaced. It's a crucial factor in the performance and usability of portable electronic devices, from smartphones and laptops to electric vehicles and medical devices.

Formula

The formula for calculating battery life is:

\[ \text{Battery Life (hours)} = \frac{\text{Battery Capacity (mAh)} \times \text{Efficiency (%)}}{100 \times \text{Power Consumption (mA)}} \]

Where:

• Battery Capacity is in milliamp-hours (mAh)
• Efficiency is the battery's discharge efficiency (in percentage)
• Power Consumption is the device's current draw in milliamps (mA)

Calculation Steps

Let's calculate the battery life for a typical smartphone:

1. Given:
   • Battery Capacity = 3000 mAh
   • Efficiency = 85%
   • Power Consumption = 500 mA
2. Apply the battery life formula: \[ \text{Battery Life} = \frac{3000 \text{ mAh} \times 85\%}{100 \times 500 \text{ mA}} \]
3. Simplify the calculation: \[ \text{Battery Life} = \frac{3000 \times 0.85}{500} = \frac{2550}{500} = 5.1 \text{ hours} \]

Importance of Battery Life Calculation

Understanding and calculating battery life is crucial for:

• Device design and optimization
• User experience improvement
• Power management strategies
• Comparing different battery options
• Estimating device runtime in various scenarios