Lithium batteries are generally used in portable electronics and medical devices. They come at a higher price point compared to the other batteries, but these special batteries have a longer life span. The most common devices which use lithium batteries are digital cameras, Smartphone, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), watches, calculators, and more.
Why do you need to know the Watt-hour rate of your Lithium batteries?
When you travel on airplanes, you are required to carry 100 watt-hour batteries for each of your devices. You cannot carry more than that according to airline industry rules and regulation. The watt-hour rates determine the amount of energy a battery can hold and deliver. Therefore, it is essential that you learn the watt-hour rates of your device’s lithium batteries.
The lithium batteries are prone to catch fires easily. It becomes difficult to extinguish a blaze caught in these batteries. Therefore, the airline industries don’t generally allow higher watt-hour lithium batteries. This is just a safety precaution to avoid any mishaps!
The Smartphone that you use may have only had 12.5 watt-hours battery whereas the batteries of professional cameras and even some laptop may be more than 100 watt-hours. Therefore, most people carrying these devices face problems in the security checks of airports! However, some of the devices are allowed on board but only under a few terms and conditions. Generally, the airline staffs require you to prove that the battery is not damaged. The battery should not show any reason for a potential fire or even explosion.
How will you know the watt-hour of the battery of your device?
If you want to know the watt-hour rate of your lithium battery, then you have to look at the battery cover. In most lithium batteries, the watt-hour is written. It is marked as ‘Wh’ followed by a number. However, not all cells are marked. You need to calculate it in such cases.
What is the formula for calculation of the Wh of your lithium battery?
You don't need to be very sharp at mathematics to know the calculation. Most of the information required for calculation is mentioned on the cover of the battery. So, the first thing you need to know is the voltage of the battery. In order to get the Wh, you need to multiply the Voltage by the battery current shown as Amps. Once you do that, you need to multiply the result with a particular fixed time, generally 1 hour. So, the formula is Voltage x Amps x Hr=Wh. The battery voltage is fixed therefore, in most batteries; you will need to find the Amps x Hr measurement printed (marked as Ah or mAh). You need to multiply the Ah by the voltage of the battery.
Thus, if you travel on airline make sure you have the right batteries for your devices. Generally, gadgets like Drone, which is very popular these days need high Wh of batteries. Therefore, it is important to consult with the airline staff if you need to carry such devices.
Choose the right battery!