Basic of voltage in a AAA battery knowledge
The AAA battery is a typical battery size which is the second most prevalent type, frequently used in low-drain compact electronic gadgets. These batteries are usually employed in small gadgets that don’t require a lot of power. AAA batteries are durable and power efficient.
This post will cover many things there is to know about voltage in a AAA battery and other related aspects.
Why are they called AAA batteries
The letters AAA stand for nothing. It is merely a way to identify the specific battery size. Similarly, the aa of the AA battery that is also very common on the market also refers to the battery size, but the AAA battery is smaller than the aa battery.
The battery label AAA denotes a battery’s specific size, that is, the height of battery is 436±0.5mm, and the diameter is 10.1±0.2mm.So AAA batteries are all cylindrical batteries. The size of the battery is the most critical feature these alphabets display. It is crucial since many battery-operated devices only use one particular size.
What voltage is in a AAA battery
One of a battery’s primary properties is its voltage, which is governed by chemical reactions occurring inside the battery, constituent concentrations, and battery polarization. AAA batteries are typically used in appliances and devices that require power in the range of 0.9 to 1.5V. The nominal voltage in a AAA battery is 1.5V, though it can fluctuate as low as 0.9V depending on the energy requirements of the equipment.
However, different types of battery cells have varying voltages. For instance, lithium-ion batteries as high voltage battery have 3.7 volts per cell; lead-acid batteries offer nominal voltage of 2 volts per cell, etc. And voltage in a AAA battery of lithium material is 1.5 volt per cell; Ni-mh aaa batteries offer nominal voltage of 2 volts per cell, etc.
What voltage in a AAA battery is dead
Given that the nominal voltage of a AAA battery cell is 1.5V, if the battery reads less than 1.3 volts in the multimeter, it is considered to be dead. It is no longer functional and needs to be replaced even though it still has plenty of power.
Before checking the battery, remember that a normal voltage in a AAA battery of 1.2V or 1.5V. These batteries function with equipment with a voltage range of 0.9 to 1.5. In this range, the AAA battery is in good condition.
Battery Technologies
There are a multitude of different battery technologies available. There are some really great resources available for the nitty gritty details behind battery chemistries. Wikipedia is especially good and all encompassing. This tutorial focuses on the most often used batteries for embedded systems and DIY electronics.
Suggested Reading
There are some concepts and bits of knowledge you may want to know before reading this tutorial:
What is Electricity?
We can see electricity in action on our computers, lighting our houses, as lightning strikes in thunderstorms, but what is it? This is not an easy question, but this tutorial will shed some light on it!
Alternating Current (AC) vs. Direct Current (DC)
Learn the differences between AC and DC, the history, different ways to generate AC and DC, and examples of applications.
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Terminology
Here are some terms often used when talking about batteries.
Capacity. Batteries have different ratings for the amount of power a given battery can store. When a battery is fully charged, the capacity is the amount of power it contains. Batteries of the same type will often be rated by the amount of current they can output over time. For example, there are 1000mAh (milli-Amp Hour) and 2000mAh batteries.
Nominal Cell Voltage. The average voltage a cell outputs when charged. The nominal voltage of a battery depends on the chemical reaction behind it. A lead-acid car battery will output 12V. A lithium coin cell battery will output 3V.
The key word here is nominal, the actual measured voltage on a battery will decrease as it discharges. A fully charged LiPo battery will produce about 4.23V, while when discharged its voltage may be closer to 2.7V.
Shape. Batteries come in many sizes and shapes. The term ‘AA’ references a specific shape and style of a cell. There are a large variety.
Primary vs. Secondary. Primary batteries are synonymous with disposable. Once fully-drained, primary cells can’t be recharged (reliably/safely). Secondary batteries are better known as rechargeable. These require another power source to fully charge back up, but they can fully charge/discharge many times over their life. In general primary batteries have a lower discharge rate, so they’ll last longer, but they can be less economical than rechargeable batteries.
Energy Density. Combining capacity with shape and size of a battery, the energy density of a battery can be calculated. Different technologies allow different densities. For example, lithium batteries typically pack more juice into a given volume than alkaline or coin cell batteries.
Internal Discharge Rate. Have you ever tried to start a car that has been sitting for 6 months? Batteries discharge when sitting on the shelf or when unused. The rate at which the battery discharges itself over time is called internal discharge rate.
Safety. Because batteries store power, they are basically very tiny explosives. To prevent harm, batteries are designed to be as safe as possible. Most batteries technologies are designed to discharge safely in the event of misuse. If you hook up an alkaline battery incorrectly, it may get hot to the touch but should not catch fire. Most Lithium Polymer batteries have safety circuits built-in to prevent damage to battery and prevent it from unsafe usage.
For a full list of terms and technical overview Wikipedia is an [excellent resource](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battery_(electricity)).
Battery Voltage History
The unit of electrical potential, the volt, is named in honor of Alessandro Volta, a physicist to whom we owe the invention of the first electrochemical cell in 1800. His cell consisted of a zinc electrode and a copper electrode immersed in an electrolytic solution of salt and water. He also popularized the electrophone, a machine capable of producing large amounts of static charge. He did not invent it, although it is often credited to him. Volta was made a count by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1810, and one of the SI units of electricity, the volt, was named after him in 1881.
Misconceptions About Battery Voltage
Since this is a difference in electric potential rather than a quantity of electric current, high voltage is not necessarily dangerous, while high current can be. When talking about electricity, we often use the analogy of a garden hose. In this analogy, the voltage is compared to the pressure difference of water: a high pressure difference results in a faster flow of electrons. Current, measured in amperes, describes the speed at which a given volume of electrons passes a certain point in the circuit. Most batteries available in the market can have high voltages, but the amperage available depends on the circuit in which the battery is used, not the battery itself.
Battery Uses
With the advancement of battery technology, battery operated devices have become smaller and more powerful. The widespread use of lithium-ion batteries, for example, has allowed cellphones to become exponentially smaller than their predecessors, mainly due to their low power-to-weight ratio. In these batteries, a lithium ion moves in one direction between the anode and the cathode during discharge, and in the other direction during recharging.
Battery Discharge and Voltage
When a battery is completely charged, it gives a little greater voltage, and when the battery is empty, it delivers a slightly lower voltage. When we talk about a 12-volt, 36-volt, or 24-volt battery, we’re referring to the voltage of the devices to which it can provide power. When a 12-volt lead-acid battery is completely charged, the voltage is usually around 12.7V. If the lead-acid battery is only 20% charged, it will only provide 11.6V.
A completely charged lithium battery produces 13.6 volts, however, at 20% charge, it produces 12.9 volts. Rebelcell created the AV series since most trolling engines and other equipment were built for use with lead-acid batteries (AV stands for Adjusted Voltage). The voltage of the AV line batteries is lower than that of conventional lithium batteries. You won’t have to worry about your engine catching fire.
Voltage Variation During Discharge
Due to the effects of polarization, the current voltage of the battery may differ considerably from the equilibrium or open circuit voltage.
One of the main features of battery technology is the way the battery voltage varies under discharge conditions, both due to the effects of equilibrium concentration and polarization.
What does the voltage of a battery depend on?The voltage of the battery depends on the chemistry of the cell on which it is based.
How does voltage affect battery life?The higher voltage means that the battery can maintain the minimum voltage required to run the computer for a longer period of time, which extends the life of the battery.
What increases the voltage of a battery?Adding cells in a chain increases the voltage; the capacity remains the same.
What voltage should lead acid batteries be?Most flooded lead acid batteries have a recommended float voltage of 2.25V to 2.27V per cell.
How many volts is a 12-volt battery fully charged?A fully-charged 12-volt battery, allowed to “rest” for a few hours (or days) with no load being drawn from it (or charge going to it), will balance out its charge and measure about 12.6 volts between terminals.
Battery voltage varies from a few hundredths of a volts to several hundred volts, depending on the size of the battery and the materials it is made of. They are a great way to power various forms of devices, regardless of the voltage requirements of those devices.
CARBON ZINC AAA
A Carbon Zinc AAA batteries are used for general and heavy-duty purposes. However, this chemistry is the cheapest disposable type. This is only applicable for low drain devices such as clocks and remote controls.
AAA rechargeable batteries are the opposite of the primary ones. These do not just last for about 3-4 months of use that you can dispose after that given timeframe. These are capable to be recharged and have a slight difference in its physical appearance than the disposable cells. Most of these AAA rechargeable batteries are sold along with a suitable charger so consumers do not have to worry in finding a compatible charger. However, other rechargeable Triple A batteries are also sold without a charger, as what happens in those sold in glittering packs of 2, 4, or any other variant that you can usually find in most convenience stores. If this is the case, try to find a compatible AAA battery charger or even a charger that can charge both AA and AAA. In some cases, you can also find a universal charger. Just make sure this can work well on your specific battery type and device requirements.
Triple A rechargeable batteries are classified as rechargeable Alkaline, Li-ion, Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni MH), Nickel Zinc (Ni Zn), Nickel Cadmium (Ni Cad). Check their distinct features and some similarities for your specific battery requirements.
RECHARGEABLE ALKALINE AAA
The rechargeable Alkaline battery chemistry is usually called as the RAM or RAMs. This stands for Rechargeable Alkaline Manganese. RAMs are the only battery in the market that have both benefits of having higher voltage and long shelf life at the same time, in the same package. However, some drawbacks also exist. For instance, the battery capacity is reduced after every cycle. This same thing also happens with the voltage.
This chemistry works well in high drain devices (e.g., flash units, handheld GPS devices, digital cameras). These cells are quite common too, so you will not have to waste your time and energy looking for these in further places. Its wider accessibility among others makes the NiMH batteries even more popular. The only drawback that most consumers see here is that its nominal voltage is 1.2V, which is a bit lower than other rechargeables.
NICKEL ZINC AAA
This chemistry was introduced in 2009 by PowerGenix as Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) alternative. It works well in rechargeable devices. Compared to NiMH, the Nickel Zinc chemistry lasts longer in high drain devices. Its higher voltage of 1.65V makes lighting even brighter. However, this battery chemistry is only available in AAA and AA battery sizes.
This rechargeable battery works great in high drain devices. However, just make sure you do not put these cells in 1.5V devices as the voltage of a Lithium-ion cell is 3.7V. Doing so could fry your batteries. These also require a special charger. NiMH chargers should not be used here. For safety purposes, Lithium-ion AAA battery size has been technically named as “10440” to separate it from other AAA batteries since its nominal voltage is 3.7 volts. Some popular applications of the Lithium-ion battery packs are digital cameras and laptop computers.
NICKEL CADMIUM (NiCad)
Although Nickel Cadmium (NiCad) is obsolete, it is also a rechargeable battery that works with a high drain device. Being the oldest, it has the lowest capacity compared to any other rechargeable battery. It is also toxic, having high self-discharge, and low voltage.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
I have gathered here a list of the frequently asked questions (FAQs) that could help you understand AAA even more and get the most benefits from this battery size for powering up all your compatible devices. You may also find terms here that may not be related to Triple-A cells but are associated with them.
How long does AAA rechargeable batteries last?
On average, rechargeable AAA batteries last for about 10 years. These batteries are pre-charged and ready to use when you bought them from stores and suppliers. It can hold its charge for a year while its shelf life is good for 10 years.
Can you mix different brands of batteries?
No. It is not advisable to mix different brands of batteries. This is for the fact that the voltage and battery chemistries vary across different brands and battery types. This can also lead to poor performance and battery leakage. To get the best results, it is highly recommended that you must replace your batteries with the same size, brand, voltage and chemistry for your device’s optimal function and the users’ overall safety.
How to obtain a better battery life?
Here are some tips to help you extend battery life. Try removing batteries from devices and appliances when not in use. If you have some gadgets that you do not use frequently, remove the batteries as soon as you have finished using them. To optimize the use of your batteries, store them in normal room temperature. Place some protective cover on both ends to prevent the terminals from getting into contact with other metallic objects.
Does it matter what type of battery I use in my device?
Yes, it does. It is always best to use the same type of battery, brand, chemistry, and voltage from your device’s manufacturer as much as possible. If in any case, this is not possible, try to get the best replacement batteries recommended by the manufacturer or direct supplier.
Why is changing all batteries in your device important?
Once you see that that there is a malfunction or the performance of your device is gradually degrading than it should do, it is high time to change all the batteries in your device at the same time. But why should you replace all the batteries together at the same time? This is for the fact that replacing one or two batteries only in that device will just drain the new ones. The partially used batteries will consume the energy stored in the newly replaced cells and this will still result in poor performance. It can also destroy your devices eventually.
Where to buy a Triple A battery?
Buy your AAA batteries here at HBPlus Battery Specialists and get more savings for unbeatable quality you can always trust. The Battery Specialists offer you a wide range of choices and world-class brands of Triple A batteries and other power solutions for all your specific requirements. Order from the comforts of your home as we offer faster shipping for orders within Australia, New Zealand, or even from any other country. Save more with bulk batteries and experience unbeatable quality and price than you could have ever imagined!
THE BOTTOM LINE
Triple A batteries are important for household use and other portable devices outdoors and other professional industries. Getting to know the various types and other battery information give the consumers the proper knowledge they need in getting the most of their devices. Buy batteries in bulk to enjoy all the benefits of having them ready whenever you need them anytime, anywhere. This is always hassle-free and even saves you more money or profits for your business. You not only save but you also get the privilege of having superior quality batteries for maximum performance. Understanding more about high drain (digital cameras) and low drain devices (clock) gives you the right kind of batteries to use for specific device. This optimizes battery performance, make tasks easier than ever, and gives you the best value for your money.
Having exceptionally reliable power solutions for your office, business, industry and even your household keep you stress-free, more efficient, and even more productive. Experience the power of the incredibly powerful brands that provide long-lasting power such as Procell INTENSE, Procell Alkaline, Duracell, Energizer, Varta, Eneloop, Eneloop Pro, Ansmann, Camelion, Panasonic, Fujitsu, and many more. Grab your favourite AAA batteries now!