Peukerts

Peukerts is a term that refers to a phenomenon observed in lead-acid batteries where the effective capacity of the battery decreases as the discharge rate increases. This effect is described by Peukert's Law, an empirical formula that quantifies this relationship. The law states that the capacity of a battery is inversely proportional to the discharge rate raised to a power known as Peukert's exponent. A lower Peukert's exponent indicates a battery that is less affected by higher discharge rates and thus retains a larger portion of its rated capacity. Conversely, a higher exponent means the battery's capacity drops off more significantly at higher currents. This is an important consideration when selecting batteries for applications with variable or high discharge demands, such as electric vehicles or uninterruptible power supplies. Understanding Peukert's Law helps in accurately predicting battery runtimes and preventing premature battery failure due to over-discharging at high currents. The exponent varies depending on the battery's design, chemistry, and internal resistance.