The Comprehensive Guide to Converting Wh to mAh

When you're traveling outdoors, knowing how to convert Wh to mAh helps estimate power station runtime, ensure device compatibility, and manage energy effectively. But how is this conversion done? In this guide, we'll walk you through converting watt hours (Wh) to milliamp hours (mAh), kWh to mAh, and vice versa, along with providing easy-to-use conversion charts. This will help you get the most out of your power station during camping trips, outdoor events, or emergencies. Let's dive into the details to help you power your devices with confidence.

The Relationship with Wh and mAh

Wh and mAh are both units used to measure battery capacity. However, they measure different aspects. Wh measures the amount of energy that a battery can deliver over time. For example, a 50 Wh battery can provide 50 watts of power for one hour.

On the other hand, mAh measures the battery's charge capacity, which indicates how much electrical charge it can supply at a given voltage over time.. For example, a 5000 mAh battery can provide 5000 milliamperes (or 5 amperes) of current for one hour at a specified voltage. 

While Wh gives a more comprehensive measure of a battery's energy capacity by considering both voltage and current, mAh focuses solely on the battery's charge capacity. Wh is useful for understanding energy output, especially for devices with varying power requirements, while mAh is commonly used as a rating for consumer batteries.

Convert Watt Hours (Wh) to Milliamp Hours (mAh)

How to calculate mah? To convert watt hours (Wh) to milliamp hours (mAh), it's important to know the battery's voltage. Voltage refers to the electric potential difference between two points in a circuit, which drives current and influences the power delivered by the battery. The higher the voltage, the more energy each unit of charge can deliver. 

The voltage of a battery depends on its type and design, and is usually indicated on the label or in the specifications. Common voltages for batteries are 3.6V to 3.7V for lithium-ion batteries (used in most smartphones and laptops), 1.5 V for alkaline batteries (used in most household devices), and 12 V for lead-acid batteries (used in most cars).

 

The actual conversion process of Wh to mAh works thus:

• Divide the Wh by the indicated voltage of the battery;
• Multiply the result by 1000to to convert ampere-hours (Ah) to milliamp-hours (mAh).

The formula for conversion is:

mAh = (Wh × 1000) / V

Below is a quick chart of conversion from Wh to mAh with voltage at 3.7V:

Watt Hours(Wh)	Voltage(V)	Milliamp Hours(mAh)
1 Wh	3.7 V	270.27 mAh
5 Wh	3.7 V	1351.35 mAh
10 Wh	3.7 V	2702.70 mAh
20 Wh	3.7 V	5405.41 mAh
25 Wh	3.7 V	6756.76 mAh
40 Wh	3.7 V	10810.81 mAh
50 Wh	3.7 V	13513.51 mAh
100 Wh	3.7 V	27027.03 mAh
160 Wh	3.7 V	43243.24 mAh
256 Wh	3.7 V	69189.19 mAh

 

It should be noted there are differences between watts (W) and watt-hours (Wh). While watts measure the rate of power consumption at a specific moment, watt-hours measure the total energy consumed or stored over time. Simply put:

Watts (W) are a measure of power (how fast energy is used),

Watt-hours (Wh) measure energy (the total amount of energy used over a period).

So, Wh=W×hours

mAh = (W × hours × 1000) / V

Convert mAh to Wh

Now let's tackle the other way around. To convert mAh to Wh, you need to know the voltage of the battery as well. The process runs thus:

• Multiply the mAh by the voltage of the battery;
• Divide the result by 1000to convert milliamp-hours (mAh) to watt-hours (Wh).

The formula for wh to mah calculation is:

Wh = (mAh × V) / 1000

Converting kWh to mAh

kWh stands for kilowatt-hour, which is another unit that measures how much energy a device can consume or produce for a certain time.

To convert kWh to mAh, you need to know the voltage of the device or the battery as well. The process is similar to converting Wh to mAh, but since 1 kWh = 1000 Wh, and 1 Ah = 1000 mAh, you'll multiply the result by 1,000,000.

The formula for kWh to mAh calculation is:

mAh = (kWh × 1,000,000) / V

You can use this chart as a quick reference to convert kWh to mAh (in this chart, the voltage is 12V):

Kilowatt Hours(kWh)	Voltage(V)	Milliamp Hours(mAh)
0.01 kWh	12 V	833.33 mAh
0.02 kWh	12 V	1666.67 mAh
0.025 kWh	12 V	2083.33 mAh
0.05 kWh	12 V	4166.67 mAh
0.1 kWh	12 V	8333.33 mAh
0.5 kWh	12 V	41666.67 mAh
1 kWh	12 V	83333.33 mAh
2 kWh	12 V	166666.67 mAh
10 kWh	12 V	833333.33 mAh

 

Finally, remember that mAh stands for milliamp-hours, and if you want a mAh to amp-hours (Ah) conversion, you simply divide by 1000:

Ah = mAh / 1000

For example, 1000 mAh = 1 Ah.

How Wh to mAh Conversion Helps Optimize Battery Usage in Portable Devices

Converting Wh to mAh is essential for optimizing the battery usage of your portable devices. By understanding this conversion, you can calculate how long a power station will last based on your device's mAh rating. This knowledge helps you avoid overcharging or underutilizing your power station, ensuring efficient energy management.

For example, the Anker 555 PowerHouse (1024Wh) converts to around 276,000mAh (at 3.7V). This means you can power your devices, like a 5000mAh smartphone, over 50 times before needing a recharge.

If you need more power, the Anker SOLIX F2000 offers 2048Wh, or 553,000mAh, and can be expanded up to 1,107,000mAh when paired with the Anker SOLIX BP2000 Expansion Battery — providing even longer usage for larger devices like laptops and small appliances during long trips.

By using Wh-to-mAh conversion, you can accurately estimate how long these power stations will last, optimizing your device usage and ensuring you always have the power you need.

Conclusion

Wh and mAh are both units of the capacity of batteries, but they measure in different ways: Wh measures the amount of energy that a battery can provide for a certain time, which takes into consideration the voltage of the battery; while mAh measures the total charge capacity of the battery, representing how much current it can supply over time, but without factoring in the voltage.

Converting Wh to mAh can help you compare the battery capacity of different devices with different units of measurement, as well as deepen your understanding of the different measurement units related to electricity. These can all be of help in the course of purchasing electronic devices as well as power stations and power banks. 

FAQs

How many mah is 100 watt hours?

Typically, 27,027 mAh. To determine how many milliamp-hours (mAh) are in 100 watt-hours (Wh), use the formula mAh = (Wh * 1000) / V, where "V" is the voltage. For a 3.7V battery, the calculation is mAh = (100 * 1000) / 3.7, resulting in approximately 27,027 mAh. Adjust the formula based on the battery's voltage to get the correct mAh value for different types of batteries.

How many mAh is 1 Wh?

270.27 mAh, if the battery is 3.7V. To convert 1 watt-hour (Wh) to milliamp-hours (mAh), use the formula mAh = (Wh * 1000) / V. For a 3.7V battery, 1 Wh equals approximately 270.27 mAh.

How many watt-hours is a 20000mAh power bank?

For a 3.7V power bank, the formula Wh = (mAh * V) / 1000 gives 74 Wh for a 20,000mAh power bank.

How many watt-hours is 30000mAh?

Using a 3.7V battery, Wh = (mAh * V) / 1000 results in 111 Wh for a 30,000mAh power bank.

How many watt-hours is a 5000mAh battery?

For a 3.7V battery, Wh = (mAh * V) / 1000 results in 18.5 Wh for a 5000mAh battery.