How to check battery capacity
Battery capacity is an important indicator of its energy storage capacity, which directly affects the usage time and performance of the equipment. Whether it is an electric vehicle, automobile or home energy storage device, understanding the battery capacity is crucial to purchase and use. This article will combine recent hot topics and use structured data to explain how to view battery capacity from aspects such as definition, detection methods, influencing factors, etc.
1. Definition and units of battery capacity
Battery capacity is usuallyAhIt is a unit, indicating the amount of electricity that the battery can release under specific conditions. The following are common battery types and their typical capacity ranges:
| Battery type | Typical capacity range | Applicable scenarios |
|---|---|---|
| Lead-acid battery | 12Ah-200Ah | Car starter/electric tricycle |
| Lithium-ion battery | 5Ah-100Ah | Electric vehicles/energy storage equipment |
| Lithium iron phosphate battery | 20Ah-300Ah | New energy vehicles/solar energy storage |
2. 4 ways to check battery capacity
1.direct identification method: A regular battery shell will clearly indicate the capacity parameters, for example, "48V20Ah" means 48 volts and 20 ampere hours.
2.Professional equipment testing: The actual capacity can be accurately measured through the battery capacity tester. The following is a comparison of the test steps:
| steps | How to operate | Things to note |
|---|---|---|
| Fully charged | Use the included charger to fully charge | Make sure the charging environment temperature is around 25℃ |
| constant current discharge | Discharge with 0.5C current (for example, 20Ah battery is discharged with 10A) | Record discharge time |
| Computing capacity | Capacity = discharge current × discharge time | The termination voltage must meet the standard (lead-acid battery 10.5V/12V system) |
3.Smart battery view: New energy vehicles or smart energy storage devices can be read directly through the display or APP:
| Brand | View method | Display parameters |
|---|---|---|
| Tesla | Central control screen-energy options | Remaining power (kWh)/health level |
| BYD | DiLink System-Battery Information | SOH (state of health)/actual capacity |
4.Empirical estimation method: Inversely estimate the capacity by using the duration, the formula is:Capacity≈Equipment power×Using time÷System voltage
3. Five major factors affecting actual capacity
According to recent discussions on battery technology, actual capacity is often affected by the following factors:
| Influencing factors | degree of influence | solution |
|---|---|---|
| temperature | Capacity decreases by 30%-50% at -20℃ | Insulation in winter/use low-temperature batteries |
| Number of charge and discharge | The capacity of a lead-acid battery decreases to 80% after 300 times | Avoid deep discharge |
| Charging method | Fast charging reduces capacity 20% faster than slow charging | Regularly use slow charge calibration |
4. Purchasing Suggestions and Latest Technology Trends
1.Capacity virtual mark identification: A recent spot check by the State Administration for Market Regulation shows that 31% of electric vehicle batteries have false capacity standards. It is recommended that:
- Give priority to well-known brands such as CATL and BYD
- Require merchants to provide third-party testing reports
- Actual test cruising range (electric vehicle 1Ah travels about 2-3 kilometers)
2.Cutting edge technology: According to information from the Battery Industry Summit in June, the energy density of solid-state batteries has reached 400Wh/kg (twice that of traditional lithium batteries), and mass production is expected to be in 2025.
Mastering battery capacity knowledge can not only avoid being misled by unscrupulous merchants, but also extend battery life. It is recommended to conduct capacity testing every 3 months. When the actual capacity is lower than 70% of the nominal value, replacement should be considered.
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