BasicB-003-016-008
Battery capacity is commonly stated as a value of current delivered over a specified period of time. What is the effect of exceeding that specified current?
A
Answer
Basic radio theory
Type
A
The battery will discharge more rapidly than specified
B
The voltage delivered will be higher
C
One or more cells may become short-circuited
D
The battery will accept the subsequent charge in a shorter time
Answer Notes
Battery capacity is measured in Ampere-hours (Ah), which indicates how much current it can deliver over a set period of time. This rating assumes a specific, steady rate of discharge.
If you draw more current than this specified rate, the battery's internal resistance causes energy to be lost as heat, reducing its overall efficiency. As a result, the battery will not only discharge faster due to the higher draw, but it will deplete disproportionately faster, yielding a lower total capacity than rated.
Exceeding the specified current does not increase the delivered voltage; in fact, the voltage will likely sag. It also does not guarantee a faster recharge time or immediately short-circuit the cells.
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