We’ve created the easiest amp hours to watt hours calculator for you as part of our mission to make solar simple.
As your number one source for solar power, we wanted to go above and beyond and create a set of guides that will help you not only choose your solar power setup but also understand all the aspects of your setup.
Ultimately, a solar system is an electric circuit storing power harnessed from the sun.
Understanding calculations such as amp hours to watt hours can help you determine the various parts of a solar power system that would be best for you.
So let’s get into the details.
Convert Amp Hours to Watt Hours
This calculation is much simpler than it sounds.
Before we learn how to convert an amp hour to a watt hour, it’s beneficial to understand what these variables are and what they mean in terms of a solar power setup.
We also need to explain the symbols used to represent these variables in an equation. This means you can follow each step as we explain and illustrate them.
Once you’ve wrapped your head around these calculations, you can move onto something more advanced. For example, doing an amps to kVA conversion means you have to understand what amps are and how they work.
What’s a Watt Hour?
A watt hour is represented by the symbol Wh in electrical equations. It’s a unit of energy that’s equivalent to one watt of power expended over an hour.
The energy expenditure in one watt hour is 3,600 joules.
A joule isn’t a standard unit of measurement but it’s commonly used specifically in electrical equations. This is because it helps people understand how much power is released when a specific fuel is burned.
When we understand how much energy is released when a particular type of fuel is used, we know how much is available for us to use. In a solar power setup, this is used in terms of how much energy is stored and available for use from the sun.
Watt hours, therefore, help us understand batteries better. When we know how many watt hours a battery can store, we can understand how much capacity it has in terms of the number of hours it can power something.
The inverter connected to your solar power system is ultimately a large battery. This means that you can understand how many appliances your inverter can potentially power and for how long.
Watts to Amp Hours 12V Calculator
So let’s get into how the calculation works.
The formula is as follows:
Wh = V x Ah
In words, this formula reads as the following:
Watt hours equal volts multiplied by amp hours.
We’re going to assume the circuit we’re working with has a voltage of 12 V. This is a common value in a solar power system, so it’s likely going to be the number you’re dealing with.
We’re also going to use an amp hour value of 150 Ah as this is also a common value.
If your solar power setup has different values for these variables, you need to plug these into the formula. If you’re not sure of the values of your setup, they’re fairly easy to find.
They’re either on a sticker on the side or back of your inverter, or you can find them in the manual. If you’re struggling to find these values, feel free to contact us for some help. We’re on a mission to make solar simple and accessible, and we’d be happy to help you figure it out.
If you’re still on the lookout for a solar panel inverter, we can help with that too. Have a look at the options available, and contact us if you need any help deciding on what’s best for your needs. To figure out what your appliances need, have a look at our amp usage calculator so you can properly size your system.
So, now that we understand the formula a bit better, let’s apply what we know using the plug-in values.
Wh = V x Ah.
= 12V x 150Ah
= 1800Wh.
It’s as simple as that! If you’re looking to solve for any of the other variables in the equation, you can simply rearrange it so that the variable you’re looking for is positioned before the equals sign.
If you’re not super confident in doing this, we have a host of other equation calculations that can help you. Some of these include an amp watts, volts calculator and an amp hour calculator.
These should give you a thorough understanding of electrical circuits! We explain each variable in detail, show you the formula you can use, and illustrate how you can use the formula with an easy-to-understand example.
Battery Watt Hour Calculator
To calculate the watt hour capacity of your battery, you’d use the above formula. As we explained earlier, this helps you gain an understanding of how much power output capacity your battery has.
In terms of a solar power system, knowing the capacity of your inverter battery is important. Batteries are sensitive to being overloaded and can degrade over time if they’re depleted too often. One of the best ways to make sure this doesn’t happen is to use an amps to kW calculator to make sure your appliances are properly rated for your system.
One of the biggest problems people have an issue with is powering too many appliances with their solar power setup. The battery can handle being depleted a few times, but when this is done over time, it can degrade the battery to the point where your solar setup is rendered useless.
We obviously want to avoid this at all costs.
Why Is This Helpful?
Appliances generally have a sticker somewhere on them indicating the power they need to operate. When you know the capacity of your inverter, you can calculate the power requirements of all the appliances you want to use together.
You can then make sure you’re not powering too many appliances with your inverter, thereby depleting it repeatedly.
So now that you understand how to use this equation and why you should use it, go ahead and try it for yourself.
If you’re feeling confused at any point about anything solar-related, feel free to get in touch with us. We can’t wait to help you get started on your solar journey, or even help you improve on the journey you’re already on.
You can find all of the solar & electrical calculators we have created in order to help you plan, size and install your own solar power system here.
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