What is the Difference Between mAh and Wh?

The main difference between milliampere-hours (mAh) and watt-hours (Wh) lies in their measurements and applications. Here's a breakdown of the two units:

• mAh: This unit represents one-thousandth of an ampere-hour or 3.6 Coulombs. It is typically used to measure the size of an electrochemical system, like an electrical battery. mAh describes the battery's storage or charge capacity, focusing on the current alone.
• Wh: Watt-hours represent the total energy a battery can deliver over time, considering both voltage and current. It is a measure of voltage multiplied by amp-hours. Wh provides a more accurate estimation of a battery's energy capacity for devices with varying power requirements.

In summary:

• mAh measures the amount of current (or electrical charge) that a battery can provide at a certain voltage.
• Wh measures the amount of energy that a battery can provide at a certain power level for a certain duration.

To convert mAh to Wh, you need to know the battery's voltage. The formula for conversion is: Wh = mAh × V ÷ 1000.

Comparative Table: mAh vs Wh

Milliampere-hours (mAh) and watt-hours (Wh) are both units used to measure the capacity of a battery, but they represent different aspects of the battery's performance. Here is a table highlighting the differences between the two units:

Milliampere-hours (mAh) indicates the electrical charge capacity of a battery, or how long a battery can provide a specific current before depleting. On the other hand, watt-hours (Wh) measure the energy capacity of a battery, which is the amount of energy it can supply over time. The conversion between these two units requires knowledge of the battery's voltage (V).