What are Watts?

Watts are a unit of power. 

Power is defined as the instantaneous amount of energy delivered to a load. Watts should not be confused with watt-hours or kilowatt-hours. Watt hours are a measure of energy storage, which is a different topic to be covered in the future.

Power (Watts) = Volts (V) * Amps (A)

Lets consider a 10A draw from different battery voltages:
12V battery delivering 10A results in 120W of power.
24V battery delivering 10A results in 240W of power.
48V battery delivering 10A results in 480W of power.

Lets now consider a 2000W load and different battery voltages:
2000W load on a 12V battery will result in a current draw of 167A.
2000W load on a 24V battery will result in a current draw of 83A.
2000W load on a 48V battery will result in a current draw of 42A.

Sometimes running a higher battery voltages can have benefits.
– Being able to use smaller cables to run the same load
– Sometimes being able to use smaller devices to charge the same battery

It is important to consider ALL factors when selecting a battery voltage. Higher voltage batteries are not always better, consider your use case and needs before deciding.

Disclaimer: ALWAYS remember to check your device’s specifications to ensure you don’t damage it by exceeding its capabilities.

Author: Tech Talks