De-mystifying voltage and amp hours
Nowadays, the cordless market offers a wide range of tools from screw drivers, saws, grinders, combi hammers, vacuum cleaners and much more. To match the varying demands of different tools, they are offered on a variety of battery platforms which is defined by the voltage, for example 12V, 22V and 36V, and the amp-hour (Ah) hour capacity, for example, 2.6Ah, 5.2Ah or 8.0Ah.
But what do all these numbers mean and how can you tell what’s the capability of a battery actually is?
How much energy is stored in the battery is a measure for the amount of work that can be performed with one battery charge. This energy content is expressed in Watt-hours (Wh). A Watt-hour is the voltage (V) that the battery provides multiplied by the amount of charge (Ah) the battery can hold. If a battery holds 5.2Ah it can deliver 5.2 Amps for 1 hour or e.g. 4*5.2=20.8 Amps for ¼ hour = 15 minutes.