AMP HOURS EXPLAINED (amp hours vs watt hours)

EXPLORIST life Mobile Marine & Off-Grid Electrical
6 Nov 202210:59
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRIn the video, Nate from explorers.life explains the concept of wiring batteries in parallel and series, and how it affects the total capacity and voltage of a battery bank. He clarifies that despite different configurations, the overall capacity remains the same, and introduces the formula for calculating power in Watts. Nate further demonstrates how voltage impacts the amperage drawn by appliances and the importance of understanding these relationships for effective system design.

Takeaways
  • 🔋 When two 100 amp hour batteries are wired in parallel, their amp hours add up to 200 amp hours while the voltage remains the same (12.8 volts).
  • 🔌 Wiring batteries in series results in the addition of their voltages while the amp hours remain constant, leading to a 24 volt battery bank with 100 amp hours.
  • 💡 The capacity of the two battery banks (one in parallel and one in series) is the same; they both have a capacity of 2560 Watt hours.
  • ⚡️ The formula Amp hours × Volts = Watt hours is used to convert battery capacity into a common unit of energy (Watt hours) for easy comparison.
  • 💡 The amount of power (in Watt hours) consumed by a device remains the same, regardless of the voltage at which it is supplied.
  • 🔧 A 12 volt battery bank powering a 100 watt light bulb for 1 hour consumes 7.81 amp hours.
  • 🔌 A 24 volt battery bank powering the same 100 watt light bulb for 1 hour consumes 3.90 amp hours, showing that higher voltage systems can use smaller wires due to lower amperage.
  • 🔥 When powering high wattage devices like space heaters, understanding the voltage and current requirements is crucial for proper system design and component selection.
  • 🌐 Inverting voltages (e.g., from 12 volts to 120 volts) for AC devices allows for lower amperage draw from the battery bank, which can be advantageous.
  • 🔋 The operating voltage of the battery bank should be considered when calculating amp hours used, as the same power usage will result in different amp hour consumption depending on the voltage.
  • 📚 Converting amp hours or amps to watts or Watt hours provides a more direct comparison of power usage across different systems and devices.
Q & A

  • What is the capacity of two 100 amp hour batteries when wired in parallel?

    -When two 100 amp hour batteries are wired in parallel, their amp hours get added together, resulting in a total capacity of 200 amp hours at the same voltage, which is 12.8 volts in this case.

  • How does the wiring of batteries affect their combined capacity and voltage?

    -Wiring batteries in parallel adds their amp hours together while keeping the voltage the same, whereas wiring them in series adds their voltages together while keeping the amp hours the same. This results in different total capacities and voltages depending on the wiring method used.

  • What is the formula to convert amp hours to watt hours?

    -The formula to convert amp hours to watt hours is Amp Hours * Volts = Watt Hours. This allows for a comparison of energy capacity across different voltages.

  • How does the voltage of a battery bank affect the amperage required to power a load?

    -Higher voltage battery banks can deliver the same power (watts) with lower amperage because the voltage does the work that would otherwise be done by a higher amperage at a lower voltage. This can be advantageous for using smaller wires and reducing energy loss.

  • What happens when a 1200 watt space heater is powered by a 12 volt battery bank without an inverter?

    -Powering a 1200 watt space heater directly from a 12 volt battery bank without an inverter would require a very high amperage draw (95 amps), which is not practical and could quickly deplete the battery bank.

  • How does an inverter change the amperage draw when powering a 120 volt appliance from a 12 volt battery bank?

    -An inverter converts the 12 volt DC from the battery bank to 120 volt AC, which results in a significantly lower amperage draw (10 amps for the example given) to power the same 1200 watt appliance.

  • Why is it important to calculate power usage in watt hours rather than just amp hours?

    -Calculating power usage in watt hours provides a more accurate comparison of energy consumption because it takes into account both the voltage and amp hours, giving a truer representation of the power used.

  • What is the total amp hours consumed by a 100 watt light bulb running for one hour on a 12.8 volt battery bank?

    -A 100 watt light bulb running for one hour on a 12.8 volt battery bank consumes 7.81 amp hours, calculated by dividing the watts (100) by the voltage (12.8).

  • How does the voltage of a battery bank affect the design of a system?

    -The voltage of a battery bank significantly affects system design because it determines the amperage required to deliver the same power, influencing wire size, energy loss, and overall efficiency.

  • What is the main takeaway from the video regarding battery banks and power usage?

    -The main takeaway is that the amp hours used from a battery bank should always be calculated based on the battery bank's operating voltage, and converting amp hours to watts or watt hours provides a more accurate comparison of power usage across different systems.

Outlines
00:00
🔋 Battery Wiring and Capacity

This paragraph introduces the concept of battery wiring and how it affects the overall capacity of a battery bank. It explains that two 100 amp-hour batteries can either operate at 100 amp-hours or combine for 200 amp-hours based on the wiring configuration. The speaker, Nate, uses the example of wiring batteries in parallel or series and how this changes the voltage and amp-hour capacity. The key takeaway is that despite different voltages, the total capacity remains the same when calculated in watt-hours, which is done by multiplying amp-hours by volts.

05:01
💡 Understanding Watt-Hours and Power Consumption

In this paragraph, Nate delves into the concept of watt-hours and how it relates to power consumption. He uses the analogy of a light bulb to explain that watt-hours represent the amount of energy used over time. The speaker clarifies that the same amount of power (100 watts) can be consumed over different lengths of time, resulting in varying watt-hour usage. The paragraph also discusses the impact of battery voltage on the current (amps) drawn from the battery and how a higher voltage battery bank can use smaller wires due to lower amperage, highlighting the importance of voltage in system design.

10:02
🔌 Calculating Power Usage from a Battery Bank

The final paragraph focuses on the practical application of calculating power usage from a battery bank. It emphasizes the importance of using the battery bank's operating voltage when determining amp-hours consumed. Nate provides an example of powering a space heater from a 12-volt battery bank and the significant difference in amp-hour consumption when using an inverter to run a 120-volt heater. The key takeaways are the need to calculate amp-hours based on the battery bank's operating voltage and the value of converting amp-hours or amps to watts or watt-hours for a direct comparison of power usage.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Ampere-hour (amp hour)
Ampere-hour, often referred to as amp hour, is a unit of electric charge, representing the product of a constant current in amperes multiplied by the time in hours it flows. In the context of the video, amp hours are used to measure the capacity of batteries. The script explains that two 100 amp hour batteries can be wired in parallel to provide a total of 200 amp hours, or in series to increase the voltage while maintaining the same amp hour capacity. This concept is crucial in understanding battery capacity and how it affects the power supply in DIY campers.
💡Parallel wiring
Parallel wiring is a method of connecting electrical components side by side, so each component's positive terminal connects to a common positive point, and each negative terminal connects to a common negative point. In the video, it is explained that when batteries are wired in parallel, their amp hours add up while their voltage remains the same. This is important for increasing the overall capacity of a battery bank without changing the voltage, which is useful for applications that require a higher current over a longer period.
💡Series wiring
Series wiring involves connecting electrical components end-to-end, where the positive terminal of one component is connected to the negative terminal of the next. This method is used to increase the overall voltage of a battery bank while keeping the amp hour capacity the same. In the video, it is explained that when batteries are wired in series, their voltages add up, but their amp hours remain unchanged. This is beneficial for situations where a higher voltage is required but the capacity of the battery bank is not a limiting factor.
💡Voltage
Voltage, measured in volts, is the electrical potential difference between two points. It represents the force that pushes electric charge through a circuit. In the context of the video, voltage is a critical factor when wiring batteries and designing electrical systems for DIY campers. The script explains how voltage affects the amperage and overall power delivery, and how it changes when batteries are wired in series or parallel.
💡Watt
A watt is the unit of power in the International System of Units (SI), used to measure the rate of energy conversion or transfer. In the video, watts are used to express the power consumption of devices such as light bulbs and space heaters, and to compare the efficiency of different battery configurations. Understanding watts helps in determining the energy consumption of electrical loads and the capacity needed from a battery bank.
💡Watt-hour
A watt-hour is a unit of energy that represents the amount of energy expended by a power consuming device. It is calculated by multiplying the power in watts by the time in hours over which the power is applied. In the video, watt-hours are used to compare the energy capacity of battery banks, regardless of their voltage. This unit allows for a fair comparison of energy storage and usage between different battery configurations.
💡Amperes (amps)
Amperes, or amps, is the unit of electric current, representing the flow of electric charge through a conductor. In the video, amps are used to measure the flow of electricity from the battery bank to power devices. The script explains how the amperage changes depending on the voltage of the battery bank, and how this affects the size of the wires needed to deliver the power.
💡Battery bank capacity
Battery bank capacity refers to the total amount of energy that a collection of batteries can store. In the video, this concept is explored through the use of ampere-hours and watt-hours to compare the storage capacity of different battery configurations. The script emphasizes that the capacity of a battery bank can be increased either by adding more batteries in parallel or by increasing the voltage through series wiring.
💡Power usage
Power usage refers to the amount of energy consumed by an electrical device or system over a specific period. In the video, power usage is discussed in relation to the capacity of battery banks and the efficiency of delivering power at different voltages. Understanding power usage is essential for designing electrical systems that can efficiently supply energy to various loads.
💡Inverter
An inverter is a device that converts direct current (DC) from a battery bank into alternating current (AC), which is used to power many household appliances and devices. In the video, the role of an inverter is explained in the context of powering a 120-volt space heater from a 12-volt battery bank. The inverter increases the voltage while decreasing the amperage draw from the battery, making it more efficient to use the battery's stored energy.
💡System design
System design refers to the process of planning and constructing an electrical system, such as a power supply for a DIY camper. It involves selecting the appropriate components, like batteries and inverters, and determining how they should be configured to meet the power needs of the system. In the video, system design is discussed in terms of choosing between different voltage levels and battery configurations to optimize efficiency and capacity.
Highlights

Two 100 amp hour batteries can be configured to provide either 100 or 200 amp hours depending on the wiring.

When batteries are wired in parallel, their amp hours add up while their voltage remains the same.

Wiring batteries in series results in the addition of their voltages while their amp hours stay the same.

The capacity of the battery banks remains the same, whether they operate at 100 amp hours or 200 amp hours, depending on the wiring.

The formula amps times volts equals Watts is used to understand power consumption.

Converting battery banks to Watt hours allows for a clear comparison of their capacity.

A 100-watt light bulb consumes 100 watt hours of power when operating for one hour.

The amperage drawn from a battery bank depends on the voltage of the battery bank.

A 24-volt battery bank can power appliances more efficiently due to lower amperage at higher voltage.

System design is influenced by the choice of voltage to optimize power delivery to different loads.

Powering a 1200-watt space heater directly from a 12-volt battery bank requires 95 amps.

Using an inverter to power a 120-volt space heater from a 12-volt battery bank reduces the amperage to 10 amps.

The battery bank's capacity should be calculated based on the operating voltage of the battery.

Comparing power usage in amp hours or amps to Watts or Watt hours provides a more accurate comparison.

The video provides insights into designing systems with both 12 and 24-volt configurations.

Full system installation videos with examples of 12 and 24-volt systems are available in the video description.

Transcripts

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