Originally Posted by
drolmaeye
Regarding your second point, I should make it clear I still don't think it is the case that "a higher capacity pack also has a higher discharge rate with the same C rating." Sure, you can say a higher discharge rate is "available," but then you have to construct the battery in such a way to accommodate it.
That is the whole point of a "C" rating in the first place...Its a measurement of pack capacity over time. The C rating establishes how much current I can take out of the cell over a given period of time or how much I can put in over a given amount of time without damaging it. Because the formula uses pack capacity as one of the factors changing the capacity of the pack changes the safe charge and discharge rate of the pack.
Lets say I have two batteries, they are the same brand and both have a 40c continuous rating and a 80c burst rating. The only difference in the packs is that one is 5000mah and the other is 6000mah. If we do the math it is obvious that one can supply more current than the other.
5000mah
1C=5A
40C=200A (continuous rating)
80C=400A (burst rating)
6000mah
1C=6A
40C=240A (continuous rating)
80C=480A (burst rating)
Now typically we arent drawing that much current out of the packs anyways but a pack that will deliver more amperage will also have less voltage sag and will maintain voltage longer than the pack that will not deliver as much current.