Understanding the Types of Batteries

Regardless of whether you are an electrical engineer or not, you have probably seen a few distinct battery types. Batteries are frequently used in wall clocks, alarms, and smoke detectors, which utilize little disposable batteries, as well as in automobiles, trucks, and motorcycles, which use rather big rechargeable batteries.

In the past ten years or more, batteries have emerged as a major energy source. They played a significant role in our life even before that by powering a variety of portable devices including transistor radios, Walkmans, handheld games, cameras, etc.

Chemical energy is transformed into electrical energy by a battery to function. One end of the battery, or cell, becomes negatively charged while the other becomes positively charged as a result of a chemical process inside. The potential difference, or difference in charge, causes electrons to move throughout the circuit to which the battery is attached.

Types of batteries and their sizes

Without the restrictions of cords, plugs, and access to mains electricity, batteries let you continue working. Although the variety of batteries might occasionally be confusing, making the right option will help you to continue working effectively and efficiently. This article will discuss the fundamentals of battery operation, examine the various types of batteries that are available, and offer some advice on battery longevity, storage, and disposal. Well, in this article, I’ll be discussing the various types of batteries as the following questions will be discussed:

  • What are batteries?
  • What are the sizes of the batteries?
  • How do batteries work?
  • What are the types of batteries?
  • How long do batteries last?

Contents

What are batteries?

A battery is a chemical device that stores electrical energy as chemical energy and transforms that chemical energy into direct current (DC) electric energy through an electrochemical reaction. The first battery was created in 1800 by an Italian physicist named Alessandro Volta. The electrochemical reaction in a battery involves the transport of electrons via an electric current from one substance to another (referred to as electrodes).

A Cell, as just mentioned, is the basic electrochemical unit that is the source of electrical energy created by the conversion of chemical energy, despite the fact that the term “battery” is frequently used to refer to the actual storage of energy.

What are the sizes of the batteries?

It is crucial to comprehend why different battery sizes affect how effective your equipment is overall. In general, a battery’s capacity to store energy increases with its size. Therefore, despite the fact that both big and small batteries are rated at 1.5V, the big battery has a larger energy reserve and a longer battery life. Because they transform chemical energy that has been stored into electrical energy, batteries are very helpful to us as consumers because they do away with the requirement for a direct power source.

The varying battery sizes depend on the device being used, both in terms of physical size and the amount of power needed. The size and shape of the particular item are taken into consideration while designing rechargeable batteries for consumer electronics products. Replaceable batteries typically have cylindrical shapes and are available in the sizes AAA, AA, C, and D.

AA Batteries

AA batteries, also referred to as “double A,” are by far the most widely used battery size. These batteries may be bought practically anywhere and are used in a wide range of applications. When people think of normal replaceable batteries, they typically visualize double A batteries.

These batteries are widely used in a variety of devices, including cordless phones, staffed pagers, and thermometers. AA batteries, which have a 1.5V voltage, are suitable for applications that need a somewhat high current flow but are not used constantly. They can also be applied to constantly-on yet energy-efficient devices like clocks.

AA Batteries

AAA Batteries

AAA batteries, also referred to as “triple A,” are the second most common type of battery. Small toys, thermometers, and calculators are all utilized with them. Small electronic devices like TV remote controls, kitchen timers, graphing calculators, and bathroom scales frequently use triple-A batteries.

Like AA batteries, AAA batteries have a 1.5V measurement, but because of their smaller size, they produce less power. Small, low-power gadgets like kitchen timers are the main applications for these batteries. The batteries will function well and last for a very long period. Additionally, thermometers and portion control scales are powered by these little batteries.

AAA Batteries

AAAA Batteries

Although “quadruple A,” or AAAA, batteries are less popular than their AA and AAA siblings, they nevertheless have a significant amount of power. These compact but potent batteries are frequently seen in laser pointers and LED penlights. Additionally, they are typically found in tiny gadgets like powered computer styluses, hearing aid remote controls, and glucose meters.

AAAA Batteries

C Batteries

Toys, lamps, and portable radios are among the main uses for very powerful batteries. These 1.5V batteries are necessary for the use of many automatic hand sanitizer dispensers. You can be guaranteed that your gadget is running on safe, dependable power, making them ideal for demanding applications where batteries must be often used. Additionally, these batteries are widely utilized in restrooms with battery-operated flush sensors.

C Batteries

D Batteries

These batteries are best used in large flashlights, stereos, and hands-free soap or paper towel dispensers for devices that need an extended duration of power time. D batteries are required for most automatic paper towel dispensers to function. These big, hefty batteries can run a number of commercial, high-usage gadgets for hours at a time, including soap dispensers, air freshener systems, and hands-free sensor faucets.

D Batteries

9V Batteries

The 9-Volt battery, which is most frequently recognized for its rectangular shape, is employed in gadgets that need a lot of power and high voltage. Devices like infrared thermometers, temperature alarms with batteries, and electronic portion scales perform incredibly well with 9V batteries.

Extreme temperatures from food, walk-in coolers, or other kitchen appliances may all be encountered by these products. 9V batteries are incredibly strong and function brilliantly in temperatures ranging from 0 to 130 degrees Fahrenheit.

9V Batteries

CR123A Batteries

This battery is widely used for tactical equipment, wireless security, and home automation because it is so strong. The CR123A battery is substantially shorter than an AA battery but produces 3 volts, which is twice as much voltage as an AA battery.

These batteries are very powerful while still being rather compact. They guarantee peak performance and are perfect for high-power applications like LED torches. The high power-to-size ratio of this battery will let it live longer than others.

CR123A Batteries

23A Batteries

This small battery is frequently found in tiny gadgets like watches, remote controls, specialist medical devices, and garage door openers. It provides 12 volts of electricity and is utilized in applications that call for brief but intense energy bursts. These batteries were formerly employed in photoflash film cameras, but they are now mostly utilized in keyless entry systems, wireless doorbells, and garage door openers.

23A Batteries

CR2032 Batteries

Unlike most other batteries, this little round cell provides a lot of power in a small package. The CR2032 battery, which operates at 3 volts, is frequently used in watches, calculators, toys, and many medical devices.

These batteries offer a very high weight-to-power ratio and deliver consistent, long-lasting power. This battery, which may be used in wristwatches and thin, portable thermometers, is essentially weightless and has a long lifespan.

CR2032 Batteries

How do batteries work?

Chemical energy is transformed into electrical energy by a battery to function. One end of the battery, or cell, becomes negatively charged while the other becomes positively charged as a result of a chemical process inside. The potential difference, or difference in charge, causes electrons to move throughout the circuit to which the battery is attached.

A battery is made up of an electrolyte, which is either a liquid or dry powder that conducts electricity, and two separate conducting metals. A chemical reaction occurs when the battery’s two electrodes are coupled together in a circuit. Positive ions are drawn to the positive electrode while negative ions are drawn to the negative electrode (cathode). (anode).

This difference in charge causes the negative electrons in the circuit’s wires to be pushed around the circuit, transferring energy to its other parts.

The charge (potential difference) difference between the battery’s two ends is referred to as the battery’s voltage. More current is forced through the circuit at higher voltages, which results in a greater transfer of energy.

Since batteries are measured a bit differently than other electrical products, it’s vital to have some broad information about how batteries function before delving into the many chemical structures of different types of batteries.

A battery’s capacity is the quantity of charge it can store. It is expressed in milliamp-hours (mAh), also known as amp-hours. (aH). The mAh of a battery is typically listed on the battery’s side. Using this straightforward equation, you may estimate how long the battery will last:

Amp Hours (aH) / Amps (A) = Hours (H)

A gadget that consumes 250 mA of electricity, for instance, might be powered for 10 hours by a 2,500 mAh AA alkaline battery. However, the battery will last 100 hours if the load uses 25 mA of electricity. The overall life of your battery depends on what you use it for, however, as a general rule, a battery will hold its energy longer if its mAh is higher.

Watch the video below to learn more about how batteries work:

What are the types of batteries?

There are many factors to take into account while buying batteries. Depending on where the battery is being used, various chemical structures offer distinct advantages. The most typical battery types and their advantages and disadvantages are shown below.

Alkaline, Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH), and Lithium Ion are the three types of batteries that are most frequently used. These batteries have unique features due to the use of various metals and electrolytes, making them appropriate for usage in a variety of settings.

Lithium Batteries

Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries are a more recent innovation and are increasingly employed in laptops and cell phones. The number of recharging options makes them more expensive than NiMH at the time of purchase, but they will end up being less expensive in the long run. The ease of charging and more reliable power delivery throughout the course of its lifetime are further factors in lithium batteries’ desirability.

Just as earlier mentioned, one of the most widely used battery types is lithium. They have the highest energy density of any battery cell, which equates to more energy storage capacity than other batteries like alkaline. Despite only being offered in AA, AAA, and 9V capacities, lithium batteries have higher mAh ratings than any other non-rechargeable battery. One AA lithium battery has a capacity of 2,700–3,400 mAh and has a long lifespan, even when used often.

Lithium Batteries

Advantages

  • Last up to 4 times longer than other types of batteries
  • Lightweight for handheld electronics
  • Ideal for intensive use
  • Function well in outdoor equipment like torches, even in conditions of extreme cold or heat.
  • The batteries have a shelf life of 10–12 years and are excellent for use in emergency equipment because they won’t leak or blow up.

Disadvantages

  • Much more costly than other battery types
  • Highly flammable; specific disposal required at certain areas; cannot be discarded
  • Don’t have larger battery sizes, such as C or D

Alkaline Batteries

The most often used kind of single-use battery is an alkaline battery. These non-rechargeable batteries, which are the least expensive type of battery, keep a constant discharge rate over the course of their lifetime, resulting in dependable operation. Alkaline batteries are convenient, but because they are disposable, they are not a green alternative.

Alkaline batteries are inexpensive, simple to dispose of, and very common. They typically have a capacity rating of above 2,500 mAh, making them ideal for devices with moderate to heavy usage. Almost all common-size batteries have an alkaline structure, in contrast to lithium batteries, making them ideal for the majority of gadgets.

Alkaline Batteries

Advantages

  • Good value for the quality
  • Due to the use of potassium hydroxide during construction,
  • 5–10 years is the shelf life
  • Function well in outdoor equipment like torches, even in conditions of extreme cold or heat.
  • Batteries without lead, mercury, or cadmium are better for the environment and don’t require special disposal.

Disadvantages

  • Without extra voltage, large and heavy
  • Possibly ineffective in high-drain devices
  • Will occasionally leak, rendering the gadget useless.

Carbon Zinc Batteries

When zinc (Zn) and manganese dioxide (MnO2) interact electrochemically in the presence of an ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) electrolyte, a zinc-carbon battery produces a direct electric current. The zinc anode, which is typically built as a cylindrical battery cell container, and a carbon rod surrounded by a substance with a higher Standard electrode potential (positive polarity), known as the cathode, that gathers the current from the manganese dioxide electrode, produce a voltage of about 1.5 volts.

Although very cheap, carbon zinc batteries have a very poor energy density. Frequently, these batteries won’t be able to give a high-drain product more than enough power to turn it on.

Carbon Zinc Batteries

Advantages

  • Inexpensive and simple to locate
  • There are a variety of forms and sizes easily available.

Disadvantages

  • Energy density is low
  • Extreme temperatures impede performance
  • Cannot effectively power high-draw devices
  • The shelf life is between two to three years.

Silver Oxide Batteries

A primary cell that uses zinc for the anode and silver oxide as the cathode is known as a silver oxide battery. During discharge, these cells keep their nominal voltage practically constant until they are completely depleted. They are offered in tiny sizes as button cells, where the amount of silver utilized is negligibly small and does not contribute significantly to the cost of the final product.

Watches and other tiny devices frequently employ silver oxide batteries. Since the battery is made of genuine silver, it is frequently only offered in button cells, where the silver content has no impact on the final product’s price.

Silver Oxide Batteries

Advantages

  • A high ratio of energy to weight
  • The exceptional longevity of operation
  • Flat design functions nicely in small devices.
  • Compares favorably to similar alkaline button-type batteries in terms of energy capacity, offering up to twice as much energy.

Disadvantages

  • The use of costly materials discourages them in high-power applications.

Zinc Air Batteries

Metal-air batteries fueled by the oxidation of zinc with oxygen from the air include zinc-air batteries (non-rechargeable) and zinc-air fuel cells (mechanically rechargeable). These batteries are produced at comparatively low costs and have great energy densities. From very tiny button cells for hearing aids to larger batteries for film cameras that traditionally utilized mercury batteries to very massive batteries for grid-scale energy storage, batteries come in a variety of sizes.

Zinc air batteries are distinctive in their design since they produce electricity by being exposed to oxygen. They are therefore inappropriate for wrist timepieces but ideal for hearing aids. A user must remove a sealing tab from the battery in order to activate it and allow ventilation.

Zinc Air Batteries

Advantages

  • For equipment like hearing aids, high energy density
  • Inexpensive
  • Act as a replacement for mercury batteries, which are largely discarded and very hazardous.

Disadvantages

  • Sensitive to high humidity and temperatures
  • While exposed to the air outside, drying out, decreasing battery life

Lithium-ion

The most well-known and often used batteries in the modern world are lithium-ion batteries, sometimes known as Li-ion batteries. Your laptop or smartphone probably uses a Li-ion battery, despite the fact that you may not be aware of it. These batteries are under the category of rechargeable batteries and can be recharged repeatedly. They offer a very high energy density and don’t need to be maintained frequently. Li-ion batteries are not offered in consumer sizes because they can catch fire if put in a typical battery charger. Rather, they need a particular charger with a particular lithium-ion charging algorithm.

Lithium-ion

Advantages

  • Most smartphones use li-ion batteries since they are small, thin, and have a high energy density.
  • Low self-discharge and quick recharging are both advantages. Li-ion batteries lose less than 5% of their full charge per month compared to NiMH batteries, which can lose up to 20% each month.
  • Unlike other rechargeable batteries, doesn’t need a lengthy charge when new. All you need is one charge.
  • High initial expenses are countered by maximum performance and efficiency, making it user-friendly.
  • Secure and beneficial to the environment

Disadvantages

  • Non-existent in standard household sizes
  • A protection circuit is necessary to restrict voltage and prevent overheating.
  • Over time, overall capacity will gradually decrease, which will accelerate the rate at which the gadget loses charge.
  • Use a certain kind of charger that users must buy or keep on hand.

NiCd

Nickel-cadmium batteries, sometimes known as NiCd batteries, are a common option for flashlights, digital cameras, and other high-drain gadgets. They are available in common sizes including AA, AAA, C, and 9V. Unlike other batteries, such as alkaline batteries, NiCd batteries have the distinct advantage of maintaining a constant voltage all the way until battery exhaustion. It has a low voltage per cell of 1.2V, but the strong supply makes up for this. For instance, you can spot a dying flashlight by the progressive fading of the lightbulb. Until the battery’s juice runs out, NiCd batteries will maintain a steady brightness.

NiCd

Advantages

  • Low cost and accessibility
  • Low internal resistance guarantees rapid charging and discharging of the battery.
  • Provides at maximum capacity

Disadvantages

  • Does not keep well for an extended amount of time.
  • Before recharging, the battery must be fully discharged to prevent the battery from losing capacity.
  • The capacity of the battery will decrease if it is overcharged.
  • Not environmentally friendly and contains hazardous metals
  • Uses a certain kind of charger, therefore the user must either buy one or have one available.

NiMH

NiMH batteries are marketed as having a high density, although this may result in a shorter cycle life. They can only be recharged roughly 500 times despite having a high energy density. Although they certainly will pay for themselves in due course, they might not be the greatest option for applications like clocks, TV remotes, or smoke alarms. All of these gadgets require incredibly little energy and a NiMH battery works best when used within 30 days. NiMH batteries operate at full capacity until practically all of the energy has been depleted, similar to NiCd batteries.

NiMH

Advantages

  • Compared to NiCd, it has a high energy-to-volume ratio.
  • Eco-friendly; delivers at maximum capacity

Disadvantages

  • Delivered drained and requiring a complete charge before usage
  • The capacity of the battery will decrease if it is overcharged.
  • discharges quickly and needs to be recharged before use
  • Lacks effectiveness in high-rate discharge devices

12V or 12 Volt Battery

This battery is large, hefty, block-shaped, and frequently used in automobiles and other industrial machinery. It offers hundreds of amps of electrical power. It may not make sense that a car can run on only 12 volts when other heavy machinery needs considerably more than simply 12 volts when compared to some of the bigger voltage batteries. This is due to the fact that both heavy machinery and cordless power tools need to be recharged after using up all of their energy. There is no need for an external charger because cars’ alternators function as generators to maintain the battery’s charge.

12 Volt Battery

22V or 22 Volt Battery

This battery, which has a voltage of 22, is used to power electric saws and drills that have great power. 22V batteries are ideal for the task because cordless power tools are small but need a lot of energy. They provide strong power for a long time, making them ideal for installing electrical equipment.

22 Volt Battery

44V or 44 Volt Battery

This battery powers power-hungry devices like cordless power washers, leaf blowers, and self-propelled lawnmowers with a massive voltage rating of 44 volts. All of these consume a significant amount of energy because they are both powerful and constantly in use.

44 Volt Battery

How long do batteries last?

The rating and power of the device a battery is being used in determine its lifespan. Milliampere-hours (mAh) is a unit of measurement for batteries. A 2000 mAh battery has a continuous current capacity of 2000 mA for one hour, 1000 mA for two hours, etc. The equipment being utilized will determine the actual current produced.

The majority of AA and AAA batteries have a 2000–3000 mAh capacity. This might survive for ten hours or so in low-power devices like an LED flashlight. In gadgets with more power, the battery will discharge considerably more quickly. If properly stored, batteries can be kept in a closed container for ten years without losing any of their capacity.

Conclusion

In conclusion, batteries are essential to our daily lives because they give a variety of gadgets portable electricity. We have looked at three popular battery types: lead-acid, lithium-ion, and alkaline.

Alkaline batteries are popular and reasonably priced, making them appropriate for low-power gadgets like toys and remote controls. Despite their limited energy capacity and inability to be recharged, they are practical and simple to find.

Due to its high energy density, extended lifespan, and ability to be recharged, lithium-ion batteries have become extremely popular. They are frequently found in laptops, smartphones, electric cars, and renewable energy sources. They are perfect for applications that call for higher power and longer usage times due to their superior performance.

Because lead-acid batteries are reliable and affordable, they can be used to start cars and uninterruptible power supply (UPS) to provide backup power. They need to be maintained frequently, are bulky, and have a lower energy density than lithium-ion batteries.

It’s critical to select the proper battery type based on your unique needs and intended use. Future solutions will be more effective, long-lasting, and environmentally friendly as battery technology continues to advance. As time goes on, the creation of new battery technologies will have a big impact on how our energy environment develops and how a sustainable future is made possible.

Related Article

That is all for this article, where the various types of batteries are been discussed as the following questions are being answered:

  • What are batteries?
  • What are the sizes of the batteries?
  • How do batteries work?
  • What are the types of batteries?
  • How long do batteries last?

I hope it was helpful, if so, kindly share it with others. Thanks for reading, see you around!

Scroll to Top