Herbert:

Your question may be basic - but one of the important elements of any
battery powered system. The simple answer to your question is that the
'rating' is a measure of the Amp-Hours capacity of the battery or
current x time x voltage = power. In the real world, as others I am sure
will point out, the actual capacity of a given battery type or make is
highly variable.

The more critical the application the more you will have to investigate
the battery selection. Yeah you can start with manufacturer's specs, but
in well engineered applications you'll end up knowing more about how the
battery works in your use than the apps engineer at battery company X ,Y
or Z. Many of the major battery companies are putting real spec sheets
on the Web now - so use Alta Vista or such to find their apps section.
Like:

http://www.duracellnpt.com/techref.d/refind.html

Have fun.

- Wayne Foletta
BMI - Santa Clara

> ----------
> From:         Herbert Graf[SMTP:hgraf@GEOCITIES.COM]
> Sent:         Thursday, November 20, 1997 7:46 PM
> To:   PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
> Subject:      Batteries [OT]
>
>     I know this is one of the most of basic questions for the
> experienced
> out there, but I don't know it and I thought this would be a good
> quick way
> to find the answer. I'm developing a few battery based applications
> and was
> wondering on ratings. Am I correct in assuming that the standard
> rating is
> Amp/Hours? And if so, is it just a ratio, i.e. a 1 amp/hour battery
> could
> theoretically supply 2 amps for 30 minutes? And lastly, does anyone
> have a
> chart on the amp/hour ratings on most popular battery types, AA, AAA,
> 9V,
> Alkaline, Normal, Ni-Cad? Thanks in advance for any into. TTYL
>