Battery charge time calculator

 
 
This tool calculates the maximum battery charge time for any given rechargable NiMH (Nickel-Metal Hydride) and NiCad (Nickel-Cadmium) battery.

How this tool works:

  1. Get your rechargeable battery and find its battery capacity marked on the battery itself. It is the value ending with mAh (milliampere hours) or Ah (ampere hours). In the example below, the battery capacity is 1000 mAh.

    Battery capacity in mAh

    An overview of different rechargeable battery sizes and their capacities.
    These capacities may differ on your battery.

    Battery size
    AA


    Battery size AA 1300mAh
    Battery size
    AAA


    Battery size AAA 300mAh
    Battery size
    9V


    Battery size 9V 200mAh
    Battery size
    C


    Battery size C 7500mAh
    Battery size
    D


    Battery size D 7500mAh
    Note: The battery images are not on scale.

  2. Get your battery charger and find its charge current. It is the value ending with mA (milliampere) or A (ampere).

    Example 1

    Battery charger has 4 AAA battery bays.
    On the charger there is a label with the following information: Min 90mA - Max 145mA
    Which means:
    Charging 1 AAA battery = 90 mA
    Charging 2 AAA batteries = 90 mA + 1/3 * (145-90) = 108.33 mA
    Charging 3 AAA batteries = 90 mA + 2/3 * (145-90) = 126.67 mA
    Charging 4 AAA batteries = 90 mA + 3/3 * (145-90) = 145 mA

    Example 2

    Battery charger has 2 9V battery bays.
    On the charger there is a label with the following information: Min 17mA - Max 42mA
    Which means:
    Charging 1 9V battery = 17 mA
    Charging 2 9V batteries = 42 mA

  3. The last step is to decide what the efficiency loss will be. The accepted standard for efficiency loss is 20%. Not all of the power applied to a rechargeable battery is put into the battery. Some of the power is lost e.g. as heat or battery inefficiency itself. This energy loss results in a longer charging time.

  4. Now we have all information to calculate the estimated charge time:

    AA battery capacity = 1000 mAh
    Charge current = 90 mA
    Efficiency loss = 20% (battery is recently bought and fully discharged)

    Estimated charge time (excl efficiency loss) = Battery capacity / charge current
    Estimated charge time (excl efficiency loss) = 1000 / 90 = 11.11 hours
    Estimated charge time (incl efficiency loss) = Estimated charge time * (1 + (Efficiency loss / 100))
    Estimated charge time (incl efficiency loss) = 11.11 * (1 + (20 / 100)) = 13.33 hours

    Note:
    The calculation is based on a fully discharged battery.
    A battery that is only partially discharged needs to be recharged in less time.


Battery charge time calculator input:


Battery capacity *: Help  
Charge current*: Help  
Efficiency loss *: Help %
* = required        
 


Battery charge time calculator output:


No output