Converting Wh to mAh: A Beginner's Guide
If you are traveling outdoors, understanding how to convert Wh to mAh is crucial when using a power station for estimating runtime, ensuring compatibility with devices, and managing energy efficiently. But do you know how this conversion can be done? In this guide, we will provide beginners with a detailed introduction to how to convert watt hours to milliamp hours and vice versa. We’ll also include conversion charts for quick reference. This knowledge empowers you to effectively utilize your power station in various settings, such as camping trips, outdoor events, or emergency situations, where a reliable and efficient power supply is essential. Additionally, we will introduce rankings of high-capacity power stations to ensure that you have a power source that meets your needs. So without further ado, let’s delve into our business right now!
The Relationship with Wh and mAh
Wh and mAh are both units related to electricity. However, they measure in different ways. Wh measures the amount of energy that a battery can provide at a certain power level for a certain time. For example, a 50 Wh battery can provide 50 watts of power for one hour, or 25 watts of power for two hours. On the other hand, mAh measures the amount of current (or electrical charge) that a battery can provide at a certain voltage for a certain time. For example, a 5000 mAh battery can provide 5000 milliamperes (or 5 amperes) of current for one hour at a fixed voltage.
Wh (watt-hours) represents the total energy a battery can deliver over time, considering both voltage and current. On the other hand, mAh (milliampere-hours) represents the total charge capacity of the battery, focusing on the current alone. While Wh provides a more accurate estimation of a battery's energy capacity for devices with varying power requirements, mAh is more commonly used as a rating for consumer batteries, and is sufficient to indicate the capacity of the battery itself too. In short, these two units are useful in different aspects.
Convert Wh to mAh
To convert watt hours (Wh) to milliamp hours (mAh), it's important to know the battery's voltage. Voltage represents the difference in electric potential between two points in a circuit and determines how much energy each unit of charge can carry. The higher the voltage, the more energy each unit of charge can deliver.
The voltage of a battery depends on its type and design, and is usually indicated on the label or in the specifications. Common voltages for batteries are 3.7 V for lithium-ion batteries (used in most smartphones and laptops), 1.5 V for alkaline batteries (used in most household devices), and 12 V for lead-acid batteries (used in most cars).
The actual conversion process of Wh to mAh works thus:
- Divide the Wh by the indicated voltage of the battery;
- Multiply the result by 1000.
Below is a quick chart of conversion from Wh to mAh with voltage at 3.7V:
Watt Hours(Wh) |
Voltage(V) |
Milliamp Hours(mAh) |
1 |
3.7 |
270.27 |
5 |
3.7 |
1351.35 |
10 |
3.7 |
2702.70 |
20 |
3.7 |
5405.41 |
25 |
3.7 |
6756.76 |
40 |
3.7 |
10810.81 |
50 |
3.7 |
13513.51 |
H2 Convert mAh to Wh
Now let’s tackle the other way around. To convert mAh to Wh, you need to know the voltage of the battery as well. The process runs thus:
- Multiply the mAh by the voltage of the battery;
- Divide the result by 1000.
You can use this chart to convert mAh to Wh in case the voltage is 3.7V:
Milliamp Hours(mAh) |
Voltage(V) |
Watt Hours(Wh) |
1 |
3.7 |
0.0037 |
1000 |
3.7 |
3.7 |
1200 |
3.7 |
4.44 |
2000 |
3.7 |
7.4 |
2500 |
3.7 |
9.25 |
3000 |
3.7 |
11.1 |
4000 |
3.7 |
14.8 |
Converting kWh to mAh
kWh stands for kilowatt-hour, which is another unit that measures how much energy a device can consume or produce for a certain time. For example, a device that consumes or produces 1 kilowatt (or 1000 watts) of power for one-hour uses or generates 1 kWh of energy.
To convert kWh to mAh, you need to know the voltage of the device or the battery as well. The process is similar to converting Wh to mAh, except that you need to multiply the final result by 1000.
You can use this chart as a quick reference to convert kWh to mAh (in this chart, the voltage is 12V):
Kilowatt Hours(kWh) |
Voltage(V) |
Milliamp Hours(mAh) |
0.01 |
12 |
833.33 |
0.02 |
12 |
1666.67 |
0.025 |
12 |
2083.33 |
0.05 |
12 |
4166.67 |
0.1 |
12 |
8333.33 |
0.5 |
12 |
41666.67 |
1 |
12 |
83333.33 |
Top Power Stations with High Capacities
If you are looking for a portable power station that can provide a large amount of energy for your devices and appliances, you may want to consider some of the top power stations with high capacities. These power stations have a high watt-hour (Wh) rating, which means they can store and deliver more energy than lower-capacity models, and can be used to power loads of appliances with ease. The list compiled below contains some of the top picks that serve as perfect power station solutions for you.
1. Anker 555 Powerhouse
Anker 555 PowerHouse is a portable power station. With a massive 1024Wh capacity and 1000 wattage, it can provide plenty of power to keep your phones, tablets, and other devices charged. Its InfiniPower technology and LiFePO4 batteries ensure a battery life of over 10 years. Moreover, it also has a smart temperature control system, and an impact-resistant structure, providing you with all the necessary features you can imagine.
2. Anker 760
Anker 760 PowerStation Expansion Battery is a portable battery with 2048Wh that can double the capacity of Anker power stations. This battery, when used in conjunction with a power station like Anker PowerHouse 767, is capable of powering a wide range of devices and appliances, including electric grills, coffee makers, microwaves, and more.
This battery incorporates InfiniPower technology and LiFePO4 batteries that ensure long-lastingness, while also boasting a smart temperature control system, an impact-resistant structure, and a secure 3-point protective clasp to maximize safety and smooth use.
3. Anker Powerhouse 767
Anker PowerHouse 767 with Expansion Battery is a powerful power station too. With the same InfiniPower technology proprietary of Anker as well as ultra-durable components, it is built to remain in top condition even with sustained use.
Anker 767 PowerHouse with Expansion Battery comes with a cable that can connect the Anker 760 expansion battery (2048Wh) to the main power station (2048Wh), scaling up the battery capacity to 4096Wh. Such a whopping amount will leave no one unsatisfied who needs a continuous power supply.
Conclusion
Wh and mAh are both units of the capacity of batteries, but they measure in different ways: Wh measures the amount of energy that a battery can provide for a certain time, which takes into consideration the voltage of the battery; while mAh measures the amount of current that a battery can provide for a certain time, without any reference to the voltage it is used at.
Converting between Wh and mAh can help you compare the battery capacity of different devices with different units of measurement, as well as deepen your understanding of the different measurement units related to electricity. These can all be of help in the course of purchasing electronic devices as well as power stations and power banks.