How Many Amps in a AA Battery? – 6 Examples Included. Aa batteries in parallel

Understanding battery capacity: Ah is not A

I used battery holders for eight “C” alkaline cells on my robot after not finding a 12V, 1A battery.

My earliest electronics projects and my first robot were powered by regular alkaline batteries, and I didn’t think about current or the capacity of those batteries. The batteries were prominently labeled “1.5V”, and I was happy in my understanding that putting four in a battery holder got me to 6 volts; when the motors slowed down, it was time for new batteries. When I began designing my second robot, I found some 12V, 1A motors (what a “1-amp motor” might mean is a topic for another post) and promptly wasted many hours dragging parents and teachers to Radio Shack and car parts stores looking for a 12V, 1A battery. No one understood that the batteries were labeled with capacity, not current, and since the smallest 12V motorcycle and alarm system batteries in town were 3Ah or 4Ah, I went home empty handed. I ended up using alkalines. Apparently, once the battery capacity wasn’t in my face, I forgot about my concern that they would force too much current into my motors.

I made many common mistakes in going about my battery selection:

• Not understanding that my circuit would draw whatever current it wanted from the battery, as opposed to the battery forcing a given amount of current into the circuit.
• Thinking that my motors would draw a fixed amount of current.
• Confusing current and capacity.
• Ignoring the “h” in “Ah”
• Forgetting about a property, such as capacity, as soon as it wasn’t in my face.

The first two points are complex enough that further elaboration would merit their own posts; today I want to FOCUS on some technical details of battery capacity and current and touch on the sloppy attitude that leads to the last two mistakes.

A battery stores energy; the “capacity” is how much energy it can store. Energy is measured in joules, abbreviated J, but it can also be expressed in different units such as watt-hours, abbreviated Wh (for larger quantities, such as residential electricity use, kilowatt-hours (kWh) are used; a kWh is a thousand Wh). This is similar to the way area can be measured in acres or in square miles: there are units specifically for area, such as acres, but you can also arrive at a measure of area by multiplying length by length, to get mile-miles, or the less awkward square miles. (The hyphenation imposed by English grammar does not help matters since the hyphen looks like a minus sign when we are actually multiplying the units together.) Watts and watt-hours are generally good units for electronics since they are easily related to voltage and current and since typical batteries that you can hold in your hand will have a capacity of a few dozen watt-hours.

In the case of a typical battery, where we can assume a constant voltage, we can replace watts with volts multiplied by amps. A 12-volt, 1 amp-hour (abbreviated Ah) battery and a 6-volt, 2Ah battery each store 12Wh, but the voltage is usually a critical parameter for a battery, and once a voltage is selected, the capacity can be specified by the amp-hour rating. The value in using the amp-hour is that it makes explicit our multiplication of rate, the amp, and time, the hour: a battery rated for one amp-hour can provide a current of one amp for about one hour, two amps for about half an hour, or 0.1 amps for about ten hours. I say “about” because the exact capacity will depend on the current.

The current and capacity for a battery are like the speed and range of a car. If your car has a range of about 300 miles, you can go 30 miles an hour for ten hours, or 60 miles an hour for five hours. Your efficiency will get worse with speed, so by the time you go 60 miles per hour, you might run out of gas after only four hours, for a range of 240 miles. Going back to my battery search, looking for a 1-amp battery was like looking for a car with a speed of 60 miles: 60 miles isn’t even a speed, and even if I revised my search to a car that could go 60 miles per hour, it still wouldn’t be a useful specification to look for. Most batteries on the scale I was looking at can deliver one amp, just like most cars can go sixty miles per hour. The maximum available current, like the maximum speed of the car, might be a more reasonable specification to search for, though providing those kinds of specifications might make the respective manufacturers nervous.

It is reasonable, though, to consider the maximum current a battery can safely deliver. That value will depend on all kinds of things, including the chemistry of the battery, but the maximum discharge rate is almost always tied to the capacity. That means that given a particular technology, a battery with double the capacity can deliver double the maximum current. Batteries are often specified with a discharge rate in terms of C, where C is the capacity of the battery divided by hours. For example, for a 2Ah battery, C is 2A. If the battery has a maximum discharge rate of 10C, the maximum current is 20 amps. It’s good to keep in mind that a 10C discharge rate means a battery life of less than 1/10th of an hour, and with the loss of capacity that a high discharge rate generally causes, the battery life would be less than five minutes.

As I tried earlier to recall what happened with my failed battery search, I was struck by the extent to which I ignored the “h” in the “Ah” specification and the ease with which I forgot about my critical “1-amp battery” requirement when I returned to the alkaline batteries. Unfortunately, this kind of carelessness or sloppiness is common, especially for beginners who might already be overwhelmed by all the information they need to sort through and who have not yet had the experience of losing time and destroying hardware because of inattention to details. I do not have any particular solution to this problem beyond reminding you to pay attention and think about how things should work before just hooking things up. Be on the lookout for contradictions; seeing “Ah” where you expect “A” should definitely make you very uneasy and lead you to reevaluate your expectations.

I will wrap up this article with some example battery capacities.

• A typical alkaline or NiMH battery in the standard “AA” size has about 2000 to 3000 mAh (or 2 to 3 Ah). With a cell voltage of 1.2 V to 1.5V, this corresponds to 2 to 4 Wh per cell. When multiple cells are used in series, as with the use of a battery holder or most pre-made battery packs, the voltage goes up but the capacity in amp-hours stays the same: an 8-cell NiMH pack made of AA cells will have a 9.6 V nominal voltage and a 2500 mAh capacity. There can be quite a range in capacities depending on the quality of the batteries. For larger cells, such as C and D size, the capacity should go up approximately proportionally to volume, but some cheap units (they’re usually light) can have the same capacity as the smaller cells. Alkaline cells have a more pronounced drop in capacity as the current drawn out of them goes up, so for applications requiring several hundred mA or more current, NiMH cells of the same size could last significantly longer. For low-current applications that need to run for months, alkaline batteries can last much longer because NiMH cells can self-discharge in a few months.
• 9V alkaline batteries can be convenient for their high voltage in a small size, but the energy density (watt-hours per given volume or weight) is the same as other batteries with the same chemistry, which means the capacity in amp-hours is low. In approximately the same size as an AA cell, you get six times the voltage, so you also get about six times less in the Ah rating, or about 500 mAh. Given the high losses incurred from discharging in anything under a few hours, 9V batteries are impractical for most motors and therefore for most robots.

Coin or button cell batteries.

• Coin or button cell batteries vary in size and chemistry, but you can generally expect 1.5 to 3 volts with a few dozen to a few hundred mAh.

12V, 8Ah sealed lead-acid battery.

• Lead-acid batteries are popular for larger projects since they are usually the lowest-cost option and are widely available. Sealed lead-acid or gel-cell batteries are available in 6 V and 12 V versions (other multiples of 2 can be found), with the 12 V versions weighing about a pound per amp-hour. 12 V car batteries store a few dozen amp hours, and they weigh a few dozen pounds.

11.1V, 1800mAh Li-Po battery.

• Lithium-based rechargeable batteries have around double the energy density of alkaline and NiMH batteries by volume and even better improvements by weight. These newer batteries are far less standardized in terms of battery size and shape, but since they are usually intended for applications where capacity or maximum battery life are important, these batteries usually have their voltages and capacities prominently labeled.

Introduction to Jan’s blog

by Jan. 12 November 2010 My name is Jan Malášek, which is a Czech name, so the “J” is pronounced as an English “Y” (if you care, we can go over the last name in person, or.

Know your units

by Jan. 19 November 2010 How many volts of current are there in a bolt of lightning? That’s the kind of stupid question your local news anchor might ask while bantering.

2 Комментарии и мнения владельцев

Thanks for the article Jan!

It’s probably worth noting, particularly for lead-acid batteries, that the capacity is usually listed assuming that the battery will be discharged over a 20 hour period. If you’re using it in relatively high current applications (i.e. robotics or motors of any kind) then you can expect almost half of that. This is something that caught me out when I was looking at battery options.

Great comment; I’m sad that I neglected to mention that. Another variable to consider is how far the battery is allowed to discharge before being considered fully drained.

How Many Amps in a AA Battery? – 6 Examples Included

Batteries are extremely useful nowadays, and one of these types is the AA battery, commonly used in small electronics. We often use it, but there are times we fail to notice that its power has run out. This is mainly because we don’t know or cannot gauge how many amps in a AA battery.

In this case, the Ah and voltage chart below might be helpful. For detailed information about AA batteries, keep reading this article up to the end.

How Many Amps Does a AA Battery Output?

The AA battery amps output depends on the connected gadget. It can deliver 1 or 2 amps if it’s required by the device. In this case, even if your battery can deliver 4 amps, it will only supply the current that your device needs, even if it is lower.

However, various battery types may have a limitation in the amp rating they can produce. Typically, an AA battery max current is only up to 9 amps. Furthermore, reaching this limit may result in the battery heating up, which may damage the device or cause injuries.

To give you some idea of the amps and volts as well as the watt hour rating of an AA battery, here is some information about the AA batteries currently available in the market today.

Volt

The volt or voltage of AA battery is the amount of pressure it can supply. Typically, a normal AA battery has a rating of 1.5 volts. However, there are also 1.2 volts primarily found in most rechargeable batteries.

Also, 3 to 3.7 volts are common for lithium batteries, since they are mainly used in high-drain applications.

Amp

Amp or amperage is the amount of current that AA batteries can supply. Usually, most AA batteries have a current supply of over 2 amps, depending on the ratings for different applications. This also implies that the higher the amperage of the battery, the more power it can deliver.

Watt Hour

The battery’s energy capacity is measured in watt hours. By getting this rating, you may find out how long your battery will last in a certain application. To calculate the AA battery capacity, use the formula:

Assume you have a 1.5V 2000 mAh AA battery. Before we begin the calculation, it is essential to understand that 1 Ah is equal to 1000 mAh. 1.5V multiplied by 2 Ah equals 3 Wh in this situation. This simply indicates that the battery has a storage capacity of 3 Wh or can power electronics rated at 3 watts for one hour.

Types of AA Batteries

Duracell Alkaline is one of the most popular varieties of AA batteries available today. It is a high capacity AA battery that provides longer-lasting energy than other brands. It typically has a capacity of 1800 to 2800 mAh and a voltage rating of 1.5 volts.

The Energizer Max is another famous Alkaline battery. Even though it does not last as long as the Duracell, this battery is still extremely reliable. It has a 1.5 volt rating and a capacity of around 1100 mAh.

Zinc Carbon is a dry cell type battery that utilizes zinc and manganese dioxide to generate an electric current. This 1.5v AA battery typically has a capacity rating ranging from 400 to 1700 mAh.

This battery type has become popular several years ago due to its rechargeable feature. It is utilized in various technologies, including mobile phones, toys, and even electric cars. It is also one of the most recent double A battery types.

This Li-ion AA battery voltage is typically higher than usual types of power cells. It may come at 3.7 volts with a capacity of more than 2000 mAh.

A NiMH (Nickel-Metal Hydride) battery is similar to a Li-ion battery in that it may be recharged. However, unlike lithium batteries, it employs nickel-cadmium technology. Usually, it has a voltage of 1.2 volts and 1500 to 3000 mAh.

AA Battery History

Ever Ready was the first firm to introduce an AA battery in 1907. It was initially used to power old electronic devices such as flashlights and portable radios. Then it became standard for general electronics in the year 1947.

Nowadays, we still utilize AA batteries. In fact, common households might have this battery for their television remote control, wall clock, and children’s toys. Aside from the AA type, we now have a variety of batteries, including AAA, AAAA, C, D batteries, etc.

Common Misconceptions About Amps and Batteries

The Amps a Battery Produces, the Higher its Voltage.

No, there is no way that the battery amperage can affect the voltage rating. The amperage rating is the current that a battery can draw, while the voltage rating depends on the number of cells.

Therefore, the only thing that can increase the voltage rating is connecting 2 AA batteries, 3 AA batteries or more in series.

Higher CCAs are better

Batteries will only supply the cold cranking amps the car demands. Buying batteries with higher CCAs costs more money and is unnecessary.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Happens When You Connect Batteries in Series?

When connected in series, batteries’ voltage will increase. As previously stated, a single-cell battery might be 1.5 or 1.2 volts. If you connect 8 AA batteries in series, the voltage will be 12v or 9.6v, but the amp rating will remain the same.

What Happens When You Connect 4 AA Batteries in Parallel?

An AA battery power voltage will not increase if four AA batteries are connected in parallel. However, the flow of current will increase. Their current may be four times higher based on the AA batteries specifications.

Conclusion

Knowing how many amps in a AA battery is quite handy. This allows you to determine how much current it can generate and how long it can last.

On the other hand, always keep in mind that some batteries may be hazardous to our environment. If you need to dispose of a dead battery, make sure to check with your local solid waste authority.

In addition, storing it with plastic or electrical tape is a good idea because battery types may generate sparks when their terminals come into contact.

Modular AA Battery Holders. Block of 4

Set of 4 single AA battery holders that snap together to form either parallel or series connection.

By using these 4 battery holders you can get 1.5V, 3V, 4.5V or 6V (series connection) or get 4x current at 1.5V (parallel connection).

Great, versatile AA battery holders for any electricity project.

Size: 72 x 65 x 15 mm (all four together); 65 x 22 x 15 mm (single one)

Customer Reviews

Steve from Grant’s Pass, Oregon. U.S.A. Works great!

Steve G. Steve Gribble from Grant’s Pass, Oregon. U.S.A. Worked great. Arrived in 3 days! Ordered more!

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THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO AA BATTERIES

Here are the most common queries regarding AA batteries that will serve as your quick yet comprehensive guide.

WHAT ARE AA BATTERIES?

These are the classic or regular batteries you can easily think of when somebody talks about the term “battery.” The AA battery is the most marketable cell globally because of its versatility in size, shape, and diversity of devices using it. This can be used as single or multiple cells in various gadgets. There are different types of AA batteries available that you can choose from based on your specific battery requirements and other preferences.

AA BATTERY TYPES

This is not just about grabbing your favorite AA battery in a bulk box or getting a piece or two from convenient stores. You should know the different AA battery types to consider when looking for these to replace old ones in your home and utility devices. So whenever you plan to buy AA batteries in Australia, New Zealand, or any other country, make sure that you know the different types of AA batteries you need to handle from different manufacturers, suppliers, or even retailers.

PRIMARY BATTERIES

LITHIUM AA

Lithium AA is another type of primary or disposable battery. Here are its features.

RECHARGEABLE AA BATTERIES

These variants are the opposite of the primary ones. They are also available in most shops and convenience stores worldwide. Though they are far more expensive than primary batteries, many consumers prefer buying these product type as they are extremely useful for longer periods. There are also the pros and cons of rechargeable batteries yet, these variants are still in demand for use in specific original devices and chargers and other compatible units. NiMH batteries are the most common rechargeable power cells these days, although you can still find some NiCad/NiCd variants in some stores.

Rechargeable AA batteries are known for long-term cost-effectiveness and convenience. These are often sold in multiples of two or four cells that are bundled together along with a charger as combo pack. Or you may also find any number of batteries in every pack with the corresponding charger sold separately.

Rechargeable AA battery packs are composed of multiple AA cells that are identical forming a single larger battery. This is used for devices requiring more than one or two batteries to operate. These common pack configurations usually come in a range of 4 to 24 Double-A cells that are assembled in parallel, series, or a mix of these. These packs have plastic end caps that are placed around the cell grouping or secondary wrapping for the intended layout. These also come with wired terminals and additional interconnects providing managed power-flow between the cells in pack. This allows a delivery that is more evenly balanced across every combined circuit.

The best thing about rechargeable AA battery packs is that they behave like a single cell that you can swap in and out. This is even more convenient for devices with multiple cells as you do not have to remove every cell when charging or replacing them. High-quality rechargeable battery packs are assembled in such a way that all individual packs can be charged or discharged at similar rates to each other over their lifetimes, reasonably balanced, and functionally identical. This is a safer and better option for then batteries. This also implies long-term health for your devices. Equal and consistent discharge rates are particularly important for equal cell workloads and better performance.

LITHIUM-ION AA BATTERIES

Lithium-ion chemistry is the rechargeable version of lithium batteries. This is usually used to power mobile phones, drones, laptops, vaping and other high-drain devices. Lithium in Li-ion cells combine with other compounds forming Li-Ion cells in various forms such as rectangular, flat, or even larger than the traditional button-top AA.

AA BATTERIES FAQs

Here are the frequently asked questions about AA batteries that most people want to know about, whether you are an individual consumer or for business and industries.

HOW LONG DO AA BATTERY LAST?

The battery life of AA power cells depends on the different factors. Here are the following factors that play vital roles in determining how long will AA batteries last.

On average, AA batteries last for about 5-10 years, but it still depends on the different key factors discussed here. So, do not wonder if your AA cells last even longer than the range mentioned here or even if they run out of power before 5 years. The way you deal with your AA power cells and other factors contribute to its longevity, durability, and even performance.

ARE AA BATTERIES ALLOWED ON PLANES?

Yes, AA batteries are allowed on planes. However, you need to be aware of these important points to remember when traveling with your batteries along with your favorite devices.

WHY DO AA BATTERIES LEAK?

Corroding or leaking of batteries is a common scenario. This is quite common with Alkaline batteries, especially when they are left unattended for so long. This is for the fact that these batteries are self-discharging continuously in tiny increments even when not in use.

Small amounts of hydrogen gas are produced during the discharging process in Alkaline batteries. Pressure is also gradually built within the battery’s sealed casing. Over time, small amounts of material from the cell’s inward portion come out under the mounting pressure. This material is corrosive and must be removed immediately. It should also be cleaned away from electrical components right after removing it.

Now that you know the reason why batteries leak, it is also best time to know how to avoid battery leakage. The quick solution here is to regularly replace old batteries. You should also keep in mind about the best practices in battery storage. It is also advisable to use rechargeable cells for long term storage in the case of devices that are not always used.

CAN AA BATTERIES EXPLODE?

Yes, AA batteries can explode. However, the explosion of these batteries is not as dangerous enough as that other batteries that have larger capacities. Some of the causes of battery rupture or explosion are (1) the batteries are inserted in the wrong direction; (2) high storage and operating temperature exposure; (3) recharging cells that are not rechargeable, and (4) mixed with other cells of different types and capacities.

Using faulty cells or substandard ones can cause explosion. One common mistake in using AA disposable batteries is that you run a brand-new battery along with the older ones. This can effectively reverse the drained cell’s polarity and can cause power issues.

If you have been exposed to leaking batteries, explosions, and ruptures, immediately clean the surface by washing away all traces of the corrosive material. Neutralize any remaining trace in your skin with an acid such as lemon juice and vinegar. Do this after washing off thoroughly with water as an exothermic chemical reaction can happen.

Make sure to thoroughly wash with water any material that gets in contact with your eyes. Or seek medical help as soon as possible. After making sure that you get rid of these harmful materials from your body, check your devices and clean any trace of harmful chemicals that remain within the device’s battery compartment or any other portion where leakage or rupture happens. Clean your device thoroughly as any trace left can irreparably damage your devices. You can place vinegar or lemon juice in a cotton bud. A flat screwdriver is also recommended to remove residues that are harder to get rid of.

HOW DO YOU STORE AA BATTERIES?

Proper care and storage of the Double-A batteries will not boost the performance of your devices. You can even optimize battery life and durability. Most of all, you can protect your children and the whole family from short circuits or any other related issue.

Take the top tips here for Double A proper care and storage.

Longer shelf life these days are what most batteries feature. These impressive manufacturers even give discounts to customers for buying batteries in bulk or for larger multipacks. Obtaining original batteries and having the latest battery technological innovations are great for longer battery life. However, do not forget the tips mentioned above are even more helpful for optimal performance.

ARE AA BATTERIES RECYCLABLE?

Yes, while most single-use batteries are actually disposable as they are prone to leaking and corrosion, almost all AA batteries are recyclable. This is for the fact that these have that significant part of material that can always be recycled whenever feasible for long-term environmental advantage.

Consumers must then observe proper battery disposal and recycling procedures to help maximise its positive effects to the environment. These batteries must not be disposed in your household collection bins, though. You can ask your battery manufacturer, supplier, or your area’s respective department as they have special collection areas designated for recyclable AA batteries and other types. Most battery suppliers, manufacturers and specialty stores have their respective collection sections wherein you can just put your used batteries for the recycling process. Other manufacturers will accept your old unused batteries, and this agreed upon purchase. Most regions have some various adjustments regarding recycling concerns and drop-off facilities, so you have to know these beforehand to be more eco-friendly regarding battery usage and other related activities.

WHICH ELECTRONIC ITEMS ARE CONSIDERED AS HIGH DRAIN DEVICES?

High drain devices are those that use lots of energy and in high amounts in short periods of time. These devices require specifically engineered batteries “to deliver precise pulses of energy while lasting longer in high drain professional devices” such as what Procell INTENSE Power batteries do.

Here are electronic items you have in your home, office or industries that are considered as high drain devices.