Milliampere-hour Conversion Tool - Convert mAh to Any Unit
Convert Milliampere-hours to Other Units
Quick Conversions
Convert Other Units to Milliampere-hours
Quick Conversions
Related Electric Charge Units
Coulomb (C)
SI unit of electric charge - approximately 6.242×10¹⁸ elementary charges
Ampere-hour (Ah)
3600 coulombs - commonly used for battery capacity
Faraday (F)
Approximately 96485.3 coulombs - used in electrochemistry
Elementary Charge (e)
Charge of a single proton - approximately 1.602×10⁻¹⁹ coulombs
Milliampere-hour Conversion Table
This comprehensive mAh conversion table shows how various units relate to milliampere-hours, commonly used for battery capacity measurements. Use this reference for quick conversions between mAh and other electric charge units.
| Conversion | To Unit | Multiplier |
|---|---|---|
| mAh to coulombs | Coulombs | 3.6 |
| mAh to ampere-hours | Ampere-hours | 0.001 |
| mAh to faradays | Faradays | 3.73113e-5 |
| mAh to elementary charges | Elementary Charges | 2.24694e+19 |
| mAh to statcoulombs | Statcoulombs | 1.07925e+10 |
This milliampere-hour conversion reference table provides accurate conversion factors between mAh and other electric charge units. All values are based on internationally recognized standards for maximum precision in scientific and engineering applications.
What is a Milliampere-hour?
The milliampere-hour (symbol: mAh) is a unit of electric charge commonly used to express the capacity of batteries and accumulators. It represents the amount of electric charge transferred by a current of one milliampere flowing for one hour. One milliampere-hour is equal to 3.6 coulombs.
The milliampere-hour is a practical unit for measuring battery capacity because it directly relates to how long a battery can supply a specific current. Our mAh conversion tool helps you easily convert between mAh and other electric charge units. For example, a typical smartphone battery might have a capacity of 3000 mAh, meaning it can supply 3000 milliamperes for one hour, or 1500 milliamperes for two hours.
What is the Relationship of mAh to Other Units?
The milliampere-hour is a derived unit based on the ampere, which is one of the seven base SI units. It's used primarily for measuring electric charge in practical applications like battery capacity:
- 1 mAh = 0.001 ampere-hour (Ah)
- 1 mAh = 3.6 coulombs (C)
- 1 mAh ≈ 3.73113×10⁻⁵ faraday (F)
- 1 mAh ≈ 2.24694×10¹⁹ elementary charges (e)
What are Milliampere-hours Used For?
Milliampere-hours are primarily used in a wide range of applications related to battery capacity and electric charge measurements. As a practical unit for electrical energy storage, mAh provides a standard for all electric charge conversions:
Battery Specifications
Measuring the capacity of small batteries in portable devices like smartphones, tablets, and laptops. For example, a typical smartphone battery might be rated at 3000 mAh, indicating it can supply 3000 milliamperes for one hour.
Electronics Engineering
Designing circuits and determining power requirements for electronic components. Engineers use mAh ratings to calculate how long a device will operate on a single charge based on its current consumption.
Consumer Electronics
Comparing the capacity of different batteries and power banks to make informed purchasing decisions. Higher mAh ratings generally indicate longer battery life, making our mAh converter useful for consumers.
Electric Vehicles
While larger EV batteries are typically measured in kilowatt-hours, their charging systems and small electronics still use mAh measurements for components like control circuits and auxiliary batteries.
Etymology and History
The term "milliampere-hour" combines two components: "milliampere" and "hour." The ampere, named after French physicist André-Marie Ampère, is one of the seven base units in the International System of Units (SI). The prefix "milli-" means one-thousandth (10⁻³), so one milliampere is one-thousandth of an ampere.
The hour component reflects the practical nature of this unit - it represents the amount of charge that flows when a current of one milliampere flows for one hour. This makes it particularly useful for applications where current flows over extended periods, such as in battery-powered devices. The mAh unit gained prominence with the rise of portable electronics in the late 20th century, becoming the standard way to express battery capacity in consumer devices.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does mAh mean in battery capacity?
Milliampere-hour (mAh) indicates how much electric charge a battery can store. It represents the amount of current (in milliamperes) that a battery can theoretically deliver for one hour. For example, a 3000 mAh battery can deliver 3000 milliamperes for one hour, or 1500 milliamperes for two hours. Higher mAh ratings generally indicate longer battery life, making our mAh conversion tool useful for comparing battery capacities.
How do I convert mAh to other units?
Use our mAh conversion calculators above, or multiply by the appropriate conversion factor. For example, to convert mAh to coulombs, multiply by 3.6; to convert mAh to ampere-hours, divide by 1000. For detailed instructions on converting mAh to coulombs, visit our mAh to C converter. Our tool also handles conversions to faradays and elementary charges with high precision.
What's the difference between mAh and Wh?
Milliampere-hour (mAh) measures electric charge, while watt-hour (Wh) measures energy. To convert between them, you need to know the voltage: Energy (Wh) = Charge (Ah) × Voltage (V). For example, a 3000 mAh battery at 3.7 volts has an energy capacity of 11.1 Wh. Understanding this relationship is crucial when comparing batteries with different voltages, and our electric charge converter can help with these calculations.
How accurate are mAh ratings on batteries?
Battery mAh ratings are typically based on ideal laboratory conditions and may not reflect real-world performance. Actual capacity can vary based on factors like temperature, discharge rate, age, and usage patterns. For example, a battery rated at 3000 mAh might only deliver 2500 mAh under heavy usage or extreme temperatures. Our mAh converter helps you understand these relationships when evaluating battery performance.
Can I convert mAh to ampere-hours directly?
Yes, the conversion is straightforward: 1 mAh = 0.001 Ah. Simply divide the mAh value by 1000 to get ampere-hours. For example, 2500 mAh equals 2.5 Ah. This relationship is part of the metric system's consistent scaling where prefixes like milli- (10⁻³), centi- (10⁻²), and kilo- (10³) make conversions systematic. Our electric charge conversion tool automates this and other conversions with precision.
Why do larger batteries use Ah instead of mAh?
Larger batteries, such as those in electric vehicles or home energy storage systems, typically use ampere-hours (Ah) or even kiloampere-hours (kAh) because their capacities are much greater than what would be conveniently expressed in mAh. For example, an electric car battery might have a capacity of 100 Ah (100,000 mAh), making Ah a more practical unit. This follows the standard practice in engineering to use units that result in manageable numerical values.
How does discharge rate affect mAh capacity?
Battery capacity in mAh is typically rated at a specific discharge rate (often C/20, meaning fully discharged over 20 hours). Higher discharge rates can reduce the effective capacity due to internal resistance and other factors. For example, a battery rated at 3000 mAh at a low discharge rate might only deliver 2800 mAh at a high discharge rate. This phenomenon, known as the Peukert effect, is important when selecting batteries for high-drain applications, and our mAh converter can help calculate effective capacities.
Is your mAh conversion tool free to use?
Yes, our milliampere-hour conversion calculator is completely free with no registration required. Simply enter your value, select your target unit, and get instant, accurate results. We believe precise measurement conversion should be accessible to everyone, from students learning about electric charge to professionals working on battery-powered systems.