IoTTools

ESP32 Battery Life Calculator

Calculate the runtime of your battery-powered device.


Inputs


Runtime Chart

Chart visualization coming soon.


Formula Explanation

The average current draw is calculated using the duty cycle of the device:

Iavg = (Iactive × tactive + Isleep × tsleep) / (tactive + tsleep)

The total runtime is then:

Runtime (hours) = Battery Capacity (mAh) / Iavg (mA)

This model assumes a periodic duty cycle where the device alternates between an active state and a low-power sleep state, which is typical for most battery-powered IoT devices.


FAQ

What is a typical sleep current for ESP32?
The ESP32 deep sleep current is around 5–10 μA. With an external RTC, it can go down to 2.5 μA. The values above use 15 μA as a conservative estimate.
How does temperature affect battery life?
Battery capacity decreases at extreme temperatures. Li-Ion batteries typically retain only 50–80% of capacity at 0°C and may fail below -20°C.
Can I use this calculator for other microcontrollers?
Yes. The formula applies to any battery-powered device with a periodic duty cycle. Just adjust the current and time values for your specific microcontroller.

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