Battery conversion tool

Battery Ah and Wh Calculator

Convert between amp-hours and watt-hours from battery voltage on one bidirectional worksheet.

Convert Battery Ah and Wh

Convert nominal battery capacity between amp-hours and watt-hours before reviewing runtime, inverter, UPS, or solar assumptions.

Result

Watt-hours

4,800 Wh

Result notes

Keep the entered values, assumptions, and result together when adding this calculation to job notes or submittal records. Final installation choices should align with the applicable code edition, equipment listing, manufacturer instructions, local amendments, and AHJ requirements.

Formula and field context

Convert between amp-hours and watt-hours from battery voltage on one bidirectional worksheet.

Formula context

Battery Capacity Runtime Chart

A battery capacity runtime chart is a planning worksheet: 12 V x 100 Ah = 1,200 Wh, 80% DoD = 960 Wh, and a 400 W load = 2.4 h before reserve and module-count checks.

Formula

Runtime hours = usable battery Wh / load watts. Battery units in series = ceil(bank voltage / unit voltage). Parallel strings = ceil(required Ah / unit Ah).

Variables to keep with the result

  • Usable battery Wh is nominal energy after depth-of-discharge, aging, temperature, and efficiency factors.
  • Load watts are the connected real-power load being backed up.
  • Battery voltage and amp-hours define nominal stored energy.
  • Battery unit voltage and Ah convert the bank screen into series count, parallel strings, and total unit count.
  • Reserve notes capture planned unused capacity and end-of-life allowance.

Formula and variables

Watt-hours equal amp-hours multiplied by nominal battery voltage. The reverse calculation divides watt-hours by voltage. The result is a capacity conversion, not a usable-runtime guarantee, because depth of discharge, inverter efficiency, temperature, age, and BMS limits affect usable energy.

Backup power example

A 100 Ah battery bank at 48 V has a nominal capacity of 4,800 Wh. That does not mean every watt-hour is available for the connected load. A practical worksheet should also document chemistry, usable depth of discharge, system efficiency, and manufacturer limits.

When to use the full calculator

Use the battery-capacity calculator for runtime, autonomy, depth of discharge, system efficiency, and battery type. Use inverter and UPS calculators when AC loads or conversion losses are part of the design.

Common Questions

Is Ah enough to compare batteries?
Not by itself. Ah must be paired with voltage to compare stored energy in Wh.
Does this calculate usable capacity?
No. It calculates nominal Wh or Ah. Usable capacity depends on depth of discharge, efficiency, temperature, and battery management limits.
Why are Ah, Wh, and voltage reviewed together?
Battery capacity in Wh depends on both Ah and voltage. Keeping the three values together prevents a capacity note from losing its voltage basis.