The milliampere-hour (mAh) is a measurement of electrical charge that we use to determine battery capacity. Experts jokingly called mAh the size of a battery’s fuel tank compared with a car’s gasoline tank. The mAh of your battery represents the entire amount of energy your battery’s cells can deliver in an hour when your battery is fully charged.
There are several facts related to mAh that you should be careful about before purchasing a new battery or replacing an old one in your electric device. In this post, I’ll try to clear up all of your misconceptions and answer all the queries regarding mAh including “what does mah mean on battery”, mah relationship with battery life, and many more.
What is Milli-Ampere Hours (mAh)
The mAh is the total amount of electricity that a battery’s cells can produce in one hour. Generally, it is denoted by 1mAh =1/1000Ah (ampere-hour). If your battery has a capacity of 1mAh =1/1000Ah (ampere-hour), this means that it can flow one milliampere of electrical current for one hour.
“mA-h” or “mAh” is the standard abbreviation for milliampere-hour. We usually do not capitalize mAh, when we write the entire term (“ampere-hour” or “milliampere-hour”). However, the letter A from ampere is usually capitalized in the abbreviated form: mAh.
How To Calculate mAh?
To calculate the capacity of your battery or mAh you have to measure two facts. The first is your load current, or how much power your device uses, and the second is the average lifespan of your battery. Now you can simply calculate the mAh of your batteries using this calculation.
Battery capacity in mAh = (Battery life * Load current in mAh)
So, if you have an electric device or smartphone with a load current of 600 mAh and a battery life of 5 hours on average then the battery capacity in mAh will be: Battery capacity in mAh= (5*600)=3000 mAh
Higher mAh Means Longer Battery Use Time?
More mAh equals more battery life- this is a myth and ovbiously not completely true. The mAh value refers to the amount of storage capacity your battery has. If you have a battery with an 1800 mAh capacity rating, it will provide you with a 1800mA current for one hour.
The length of time your battery lasts is entirely dependent on the quality of your usage. For example, if you use your phone minimally, only messaging and making occasional calls, the phone will use less battery and last much longer. However, if you use your smartphone extensively, such as to listen to podcasts, view movies, or play video games, the cell will deplete quickly.
What Does mAh Mean For Rechargeable Batteries?
For a rechargeable battery mAh refers to the amount of energy it can store in its cells and the time it can power up your gadget before entirely discharging. For example, if your phone’s battery capacity is 5000mAh, it can run your phone for up to 50 hours at 100 mA current.
However, the above case is only theoretically proven. Battery cell capacity differs from what is mentioned on the product in real life.
Why Should You Know About mAh?
To gain a basic understanding of mAh, you should do some research before going to the store. It will assist you in determining how long that specific battery will last, as well as whether or not the battery is compatible with your device.
There is also another very important reason to know your battery’s mAh. Before traveling on a plane, you should be aware of your battery’s mAh capacity. Because most commercial flights do not accept devices with capacities above 10000 mAh. So, make sure you check the mAh of your electronics before you leave for the airport.
Frequently Asked Question(FAQ)
Q: Is it ok to use a battery with a higher mAh capacity rate?
Answer: Yes, it’s alright. A battery with a larger mAh rating has no negative impact on electrical gadgets, and it will also supply you with long-run periods. However, keep in mind that devices with a capacity of more than 10000 mAh are not permitted on commercial flights.
Q: What is a decent mAh rate for my battery?
Answer: A battery with a capacity of 4000 mAh is defined as a standard. But this standard rate is steadily rising day by day with the rapid advancement of battery technology.
Q: What is the life expectancy or usage time of my 3000 mAh battery?
Answer: Your 3000 mAh battery’s average life expectancy or usage period is 1.46 days or 35 hours. You can easily calculate it by using (Battery life = Battery capacity in mAh/Load current in mAh) this formula.
Q: Can I replace my battery with one that has a different mAh rate?
Answer: Yes, you can replace it. If your current battery has a greater mAh rate than the new one, the new battery will provide you with less power. The mAh stands for the amount of charge your battery can deliver in an hour.
Conclusion
If you are a frequent traveler, you understand the importance of examining the mAh rate of a battery better than anybody else. The mAh rate of your battery helps to estimate how long your phone or other devices will last before it has to be recharged. As a consequence, you won’t have to worry about your gadget shutting down unexpectedly because you’ll know exactly when it needs to be charged.
However, there are several additional reasons why you should be aware of your device’s mAh rate, which I have detailed in this post. So, before you go out and buy a new battery or replace an old one, give it a read. I hope this clarifies any doubts you had about the mAh rate of your batteries.
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