Battery Storage Sizing

Battery Run Time Calculator

Off-grid cabin power planning, RV camping, UPS backup runtime. Calculates hours and minutes a battery bank will power an AC/DC load based on battery chemistry DoD (LiFePO4 80-90%, AGM 50%) and inverter conversion loss.

Battery Run Time Calculator
Amp-Hours (Ah)
Volts
Watts
Ratio
Calculated Result
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Instant Calculation
Auxiliary Value
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Engineering Output
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Step-by-Step Derivation ▼ Show Steps
Governing Formula Verified Physics
Hours = [Capacity (Ah) × Voltage × DoD × Efficiency] / Load (Watts)

Calculations adhere to standard electrical equations and National Electrical Code guidelines.

Engineering Principles & Calculations

This calculator uses the exact mathematical relationships between Capacity (Ah), Voltage (12/24/48V), Load (Watts), Chemistry (Lead-Acid / Lithium), Inverter Efficiency (default 90%) to determine Runtime (Hours & Minutes), Total Usable Energy (Wh). In practical applications, electrical systems must account for safety derating factors, nominal vs actual voltages, and conductor resistance losses.

Calculates hours and minutes a battery bank will power an AC/DC load based on battery chemistry DoD (LiFePO4 80-90%, AGM 50%) and inverter conversion loss.

Typical Application & Best Practices

Off-grid cabin power planning, RV camping, UPS backup runtime.

Reference Matrix

Battery Run Time Calculator Benchmark Lookup Table

Battery BankLoad WattsUsable Wh (80%)Estimated Runtime
12V 100Ah (1.2 kWh)50 W (Laptop + Lights)864 Wh17.3 Hours
12V 100Ah (1.2 kWh)150 W (TV + Refrigerator)864 Wh5.8 Hours
12V 100Ah (1.2 kWh)500 W (Microwave / Tools)864 Wh1.7 Hours
12V 200Ah (2.4 kWh)150 W (Fridge + Starlink)1,728 Wh11.5 Hours
24V 200Ah (4.8 kWh)500 W (Base Load)3,456 Wh6.9 Hours
48V 100Ah (4.8 kWh)1,000 W (High Load)3,456 Wh3.5 Hours
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

How long will a 100Ah 12V battery run an appliance? +
At 80% depth of discharge and 90% inverter efficiency, it delivers ~864 usable Watt-hours. It will run a 100W load for ~8.6 hours.
What is the difference in runtime between Lead-Acid and Lithium? +
Lead-acid batteries can only be safely discharged to 50% DoD to prevent damage, while Lithium (LiFePO4) can be safely discharged to 80-90% DoD, providing nearly double usable runtime.
How does inverter efficiency affect battery runtime? +
DC-to-AC inverters lose 10-15% of energy in conversion. Always multiply usable capacity by ~0.88 to 0.90 to account for inverter loss.

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