Battery, energy & solar

Battery Runtime Calculator

Battery runtime equals usable stored watt-hours divided by load watts. Stored watt-hours equal battery voltage multiplied by amp-hour capacity.

Estimate ideal and adjusted runtime from battery energy, load, usable depth, and conversion efficiency.

Enter values

Advanced assumptions

Calculated result

Estimated runtime

Calculating…

Calculated locally in your browser

Planning math only. Verify equipment specifications and installation requirements separately.

Battery runtime relationship diagramAn original simplified battery diagram paired with the current calculator result.ENERGY FLOWRESULTCalculated locallyFORMULA VISIBLEINPUTS EDITABLE
Battery Runtime Calculator relationship diagram. The illustration supports the text result; it is not a wiring or installation drawing.

What this calculator returns

Treat the answer as an energy-budget estimate and compare it with the battery and equipment documentation.

Formula and variables

The calculation runs entirely in your browser. Static formulas, definitions, examples, and tables remain readable without JavaScript.

Formula

Nominal Wh = V × Ah; adjusted runtime = Wh × usable depth × efficiency / load W.

V
Nominal battery or bank voltage.
Ah
Charge capacity in amp-hours.
Wh
Nominal or usable stored energy in watt-hours.
W
Average load power in watts.
η
Entered conversion efficiency.

Usable depth and efficiency are entered as percentages.

Worked example

Worked example inputs and result
InputValue
Battery voltage12 V
Capacity100 Ah
Load120 W
Result12 V × 100 Ah = 1,200 Wh; at 120 W the ideal runtime is 10 hours before adjustment factors.

12 V × 100 Ah = 1,200 Wh; at 120 W the ideal runtime is 10 hours before adjustment factors.

Reference table

Nominal appliance planning values only. Check the equipment label or a power meter for the value used in a real estimate.
AppliancePlanning wattsUse note
LED lamp10 WNominal example
Laptop computer60–120 WTypical planning range
Refrigerator while running100–250 WCycling load; startup can be higher
Microwave oven900–1,500 WInput varies by model
Portable space heater1,500 WCommon high setting
Electric kettle1,200–1,800 WVaries by market and model

Frequently asked questions

Is this battery runtime result code compliant?

No. PowerTotals performs transparent electrical math and planning estimates. Installation decisions must be checked against equipment documentation, the adopted code, and the authority having jurisdiction.

Are my inputs uploaded?

No. Calculations run locally in your browser, and analytics never receives raw electrical values.

Assumptions and limitations

  • No battery chemistry, aging, temperature, Peukert, BMS, or discharge-current prediction.
  • Usable depth and efficiency are user assumptions.

Method and sources

Read the calculation methodology, review the technical sources, or browse the reference table index. Last reviewed .

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