Estimate smart meter battery life from usable stored energy and average electrical load. Capacity and voltage determine nominal watt-hours, while usable capacity, average power, and annual self-discharge determine practical runtime. The calculator reports estimated years, usable energy, and annual energy demand for preliminary maintenance planning. Temperature, radio behavior, battery aging, and power peaks still require engineering validation.
The result is an energy-budget estimate. It treats average load and self-discharge as steady annual demand, so it is best used to compare design assumptions rather than promise a service date.
Confirm pulse-current capability and temperature performance separately; adequate total energy does not guarantee reliable radio transmissions.
A 7.2 Ah, 3.6 V battery stores 25.92 Wh nominally. At 80% usable capacity, 0.25 mW average power, and 2% annual self-discharge, usable energy is 20.74 Wh and estimated runtime is 7.65 years.
Multiplying amp-hours by voltage converts charge capacity into energy that can be compared with power consumption.
It adds an annual energy loss, shortening the estimated runtime even when the electronic load is very small.
Yes. Use a time-weighted average that includes sleep, measurement, processing, and transmission states.
Yes mathematically, but actual service life may be limited by chemistry, aging, seals, or manufacturer specifications.
Only through the usable-capacity input; choose a derating supported by the expected temperature range.
| Variable | Unit and role |
|---|---|
| Battery capacity | Ah; charge rating |
| Nominal voltage | V; converts charge to energy |
| Average power | mW; steady time-averaged load |
| Self-discharge | % per year of nominal energy |