I want to measure the power consumption not in theory but in time (after one day of use).
I don't have equipment to measure the power consumption but I have a battery charger that reports mA charged and "arduino" devices that report voltage.
Can I use the batteries, then charge them to measure the power consumption according to the indication from battery charger? Voltage measurement is more accurate or neither methods are acceptable of good estimate for battery life? My device I will hope to draw less than 1mA
Here real data from a device at ~25mA (according to data sheet) and battery capacity 2400mA (NiMH - eneloop type, low self-discharge)
https://www.fdk.com/battery/nimh_e/tech_info/HR-3UTG.pdf
uptime Voltage
0d0h 4.3 (start)
0d0h 4.15
0d1h 4.12
0d2h 4.08
0d3h 4.04
0d4h 4.02
0d5h 4.01
0d6h 3.99
Device at ~1mA (according to data sheet) and battery capacity 350mA (LiPo) (I can't measure the mA of charging in this device)
0d0h 4.19 (start)
0d2h 4.02
0d3h 4.02
0d5h 4.01
0d6h 4.01
0d7h 4.01
0d8h 4.01
0d9h 4.01
0d10h 4.01
0d11h 4.01
0d12h 4
0d13h 4
0d14h 4
0d15h 4
0d16h 4
0d17h 4
0d18h 4
0d19h 4
0d20h 4
0d21h 4
0d22h 4
0d23h 3.99
1d0h 3.99
1d1h 3.99
1d2h 3.99
1d3h 3.99
1d4h 3.99
1d6h 3.98
1d7h 3.98
1d8h 3.98
1d9h 3.98
1d10h 3.98
1d11h 3.98
1d12h 3.98
1d13h 3.98
1d14h 3.98
1d16h 3.98
1d17h 3.97
1d18h 3.97
1d19h 3.97
1d20h 3.97
1d21h 3.97
1d22h 3.96
1d23h 3.96
2d0h 3.96
2d1h 3.96
2d2h 3.96
2d3h 3.96
2d4h 3.96
2d5h 3.96
2d6h 3.96
2d8h 3.96
2d9h 3.96
2d10h 3.95
2d11h 3.95
2d12h 3.95
2d13h 3.95
2d14h 3.94
2d16h 3.94
2d17h 3.94
According to Voltage we have a clear indication in 6 hours that the first device draws more power, but can I measure for battery prediction?
I know that chargers check the voltage to stop / start charging e.t.c. but the mA measurement is reliable / accurate?