Types of “little finger” AAA batteries and their use

AAA battery and its characteristics

Similar power sources are produced by many companies, but have common size standards. The differences relate to technical parameters, primarily chemical composition. There are disposable products and batteries that can be recharged multiple times.

Designation

Popularly, elements of this type are called little finger ones due to their small size. According to the international IEC marking, first there are letters indicating the chemical composition, then the number 03, which means the type. According to the ANSI/NEDA standard, the numbers 24 and a letter index are present.

Battery capacity and number of amps

Capacity refers to the energy charge of a battery that it is capable of delivering for some time when discharged. The unit of measurement is Ah (Ampere-hours). An element with a high capacitance is able to maintain the required voltage for a longer time.

The resource varies depending on the type of battery:

AAA battery capacity table.

• for saline - 540 mAh;
• for alkaline ones - 1200 mAh;
• for batteries an average of 1250 mAh.

This affects the capacity and service life of the batteries.

Battery voltage

This indicator is indicated on the body. The average value of disposable cells is 1.5 V. Some modifications have deviations upward - up to 1.6 V. For AAA batteries, the voltage is always standard - 1.25 V.

Size and weight

Little finger batteries of an elongated cylindrical shape. Diameter - 10.5 mm, length - 44.5 mm. Weight depends on the built-in electrode, ranging from 12-14 g.

Best before date

The parameter is indicated on the label. Shelf life should not be confused with service life. The last indicator depends on the device in which the element is used and the amount of mAh consumed.

Operating temperature range

Average values ​​are -40…+60°С. The most frost-resistant are nickel-cadmium batteries. Alkaline AAA operate in the range -30…+50°C. For salt cells, the current output drops significantly as the temperature decreases. Lithium-based cells do not tolerate high temperatures well. When heated, they can leak and even explode.

Difference from AA batteries

Pinky and AA batteries are similar in appearance. When viewed individually, it is sometimes difficult to distinguish which is which. The first thing you notice when comparing is the size. The finger elements are larger: diameter - 14.5 mm, length - 50-50.5 mm.

Dimensions affect capacitance at the same voltage. Finger elements work for a long time in children's toys and flashlights, which consume energy evenly. Used in pulse devices.

The batteries differ in capacity and diameter, but at the same time they are similar in appearance.

There are 2 types of AA batteries available: salt and alkaline. The first ones are a little lighter, up to 18 g, versus 24 g for the second ones. The capacity of alkaline AA batteries is almost equal to that of pinky NiMH batteries: 2900 mAh and 3000 mAh, respectively.

For AAA cells, the positive electrode has a protrusion at the end measuring ⅓ of the diameter. On the other side there is a flat or raised area of ​​the negative terminal. Finger elements have a positive electrode 1 mm high and 5 mm in diameter. Negative - flat, 8 mm in diameter.

Where is this type of battery used?

The scope of application of this type of power source is quite extensive. When choosing, you need to consider the power of the device in which you plan to install them:

1. Saline. They have a small capacity, so they are suitable for devices with low electrical current consumption, for example: wall clocks, low-power flashlights, children's and tabletop toys, remote controls.
2. Alkaline. More powerful, therefore, they have a wide range of uses: powerful flashlights, mobile radios, tape recorders and other portable audio devices, photo and video cameras, flashlights, children's toys with motors, hearing aids, power tools with low power consumption, binoculars, pagers, calculators.

3. Lithium. For devices with high current consumption: powerful flashlights, smartphones, remote controls, e-books, notebooks.
4. Nickel-cadmium batteries. They are installed in photo and video cameras, cell phones, laptops, tablets, digital cameras, electric shavers, and radio-controlled toys.
5. Nickel-metal hydride batteries. Suitable for video and photo cameras, smartphones, laptops, tablets, car batteries.

Types of AAA batteries

In appearance, the batteries differ only in the company logos. The main indicator is the type of installed electrodes and anodes. They affect capacity, service life and cost. Disposable galvanic cells and rechargeable batteries are produced.

Salt

They belong to the earliest development and have remained virtually unchanged throughout production. Available for purchase at any retail outlet that sells electrical goods.

Unlike other AAA elements, they are inexpensive due to the use of cheap raw materials for production. This is zinc with cadmium, gallium, lead at the negative pole. The positive electrode is made of manganese dioxide with inclusions of electrolyte, acetylene black, and graphite.

The production of salt elements is gradually decreasing. In modern gadgets, their use is irrational and ineffective. They are suitable for many devices that do not require high self-discharge and voltage instability.

Other disadvantages include:

Salt batteries are suitable for many devices that do not require high self-discharge.

• the lowest energy consumption among other elements of size 03 - 540 mAh;
• serve on average 2 years;
• with a large discharge, the capacity immediately drops significantly;
• As the air temperature drops, activity approaches minimum.

Despite the disadvantages, salt batteries are in demand due to their low cost.

Alkaline or alkaline

These are elements that are average in price and operating time. In a potassium or manganese-zinc electrolyte, chemical reactions proceed faster and energy output is better. The capacity is 2 times higher compared to salt cells, reaching 1100 mAh. They have weak self-discharge.

The optimal price-quality ratio causes increased customer demand. They work in household appliances and electronics that consume little power. They are not suitable for equipment requiring surge voltage. They do not last long, but replacing them with new elements does not affect the budget.

Lithium

Lithium is used in the anode, the electrolyte comes in different types. These are the most powerful, long-lasting pinky batteries, which affects their price. They are used in devices where continuous or intermittent power supply is required. Such equipment includes cameras, video cameras and other modern gadgets.

AAA batteries

They are used in devices where it is possible to use disposable batteries of the same type. A special feature is the ability to recharge. Even though their price is much higher and the charger is purchased separately, the savings are noticeable.

The voltage of batteries is lower than that of batteries - 1.2 V, but they have a larger storage capacity.

Among such current sources, nickel with metal hydrides or cadmium - NiMH and NiCd, respectively, are in demand. For the former, care is required when recharging. If you violate the regime, the duration of service is limited.

Little finger batteries based on lithium have been developed: Li-pol, Li-ion.

Rechargeable batteries.

Pivot table

The most important information about AAA power supplies is presented in the table.

Classification and sizes

The classification of rechargeable batteries determines the strict correspondence of the size and shape of the product to its letter or alphanumeric designation (or the so-called form factor). Commonly called “little finger” batteries with a length of 44 mm and a diameter of 10 mm according to the American standard are designated by three Latin letters - AAA (in the international standardization system - HR03). Accordingly, AA batteries (HR6) are used instead of disposable AA batteries with a length of 50 mm and a diameter of 14 mm.

Popular manufacturers

There are dozens of manufacturers in the world, and all products are of high quality. The brands in the rating include Alkaline, Turbo max, Energy, Robiton, Minamoto.

Testing for operating time in minutes at the same load revealed the leaders:

Duracell ultrapower lasts 61 minutes of continuous use when tested.

• Duracell ultrapower - 61;
• GP - 56;
• "Trophy" - 53;
• Energizer - 44;
• Kodak - 40.

In terms of price-quality ratio, the most advantageous model is from.

Popular models from Panasonic

The well-known Japanese manufacturer Panasonic, which was the first to start producing nickel-metal hydride batteries with low self-discharge current, remains the constant leader in the ratings of AA and AAA batteries.

For use in devices with the form factor of HR03 (AAA) batteries, the company offers three types of “pinky” batteries.

The “younger” model Eneloop Lite today costs 210-220 rubles. Possessing a minimal (compared to more expensive products from Panasonic) capacity (550 mAh), the device allows for the maximum number of recharge cycles to date (up to 3000).

The price of a Panasonic Eneloop product with a capacity of 750 mAh is 260-270 rubles. The number of complete charge/discharge cycles guaranteed by the manufacturer is also very high - 2100.

On a note! The Panasonic AAA batteries described above retain 70 percent charge even after three years of storage.

The “older” Eneloop Pro model, which allows 500 full recharge cycles, today has a fairly large capacity for this type of battery (950 mAh) and costs 300-320 rubles. A distinctive feature of this product is the ability to operate at ambient temperatures down to minus 20 degrees. After a year of storage, such a battery will lose only 15 percent of its original charge.

For information! By reading the operating instructions for a particular “device”, you can determine which AAA batteries are best suited for it.

An important advantage of Panasonic Eneloop batteries is that they are sold already charged and ready for immediate use (Ready To Use).

Advantages and disadvantages

Various advantages and disadvantages are present in any product and AAA batteries are no exception. The pros and cons of LR03 batteries are:

Compact sizes.

Low self-discharge level.

Significant reserve of electricity.

Relatively heavy weight.

Cannot be reused.

The cost is higher than that of salt ones.

If this type of power supply is very often discharged in the device, it is recommended to purchase a AAA battery.

AA battery test

Based on the research of Alexey Sorokin, we conclude that not all batteries need to be chosen according to the principle “The more expensive, the better.” You should choose your elements wisely.

Making a choice is not so easy. The performance of the energy source depends on the conditions of use and the device.

The Duracell company produces good elements for digital photography equipment. The elements of this company cope well with impulse loads. You can buy it if cost is not the main thing for you.

Kodak - suitable for devices with uniform energy consumption. Flashlights, toys and other similar devices will love this item. They also tolerate impulse consumption quite well.

GP is something in between. Suitable for all types of electrical appliances.

Energizers are expensive and ineffective.

Trophy is not expensive and lasts longer than all the others.

Thus, the rating of AA batteries is as follows:

1. Trophy
2. Duracell
3. Kodak
4. G.P.
5. Energizer

Such a comparison will help you make the right choice.

Charging device

As the best charger for AA and AAA batteries, battery manufacturers naturally recommend devices of their own brand. That is, everything is simple, for example, bought a Panasonic Eneloop kit, buy a Panasonic Basic Charger BQ-CC51E for 1200-1300 rubles. Such a device will allow you to simultaneously charge 2 or 4 products. Approximate charging time is 8-10 hours (although this will largely depend on how low the batteries were).

For comparison: the universal charger (AA or AAA) Robiton Smart S100, also designed for simultaneous charging of 2 or 4 batteries, costs 900-950 rubles. The built-in processor monitors changes in voltage and other electrical parameters and automatically turns off the device when the charging process is complete. The charging time, depending on the battery capacity, varies from 1.5 to 6 hours. The delivery set includes a network adapter and a power supply for connecting to a car's cigarette lighter (this greatly expands the functionality of the product).

Which of the above-described mid-price devices from fairly well-known manufacturers will be the best charger for AA and AAA batteries? It would seem that everything is simple: Robiton is cheaper and charges faster, Panasonic is more expensive and slower. However, electronics gurus clearly state that the higher the charging speed (and therefore its current), the shorter the battery life and vice versa. Currently, the cost of nickel-metal hydride batteries is not that high, so some users will not want to achieve their maximum service life (5-10 years) in order to save their own time.

The most advanced can purchase a high-tech microprocessor-based intelligent charger with the ability to manually set modes and monitor process stages (voltage, current and capacity level) on a multifunctional LCD screen. A popular device with such capabilities, Robiton Master Charger Pro LCD, currently costs about 3,400 rubles.

For information! Almost all modern chargers are equipped with a protection device against so-called polarity reversal. If you accidentally insert the battery incorrectly (that is, mix up “+” and “-”), this will not lead to failure of either the charger itself or the battery.

What to look for before purchasing

Before purchasing, you should pay attention not only to the name of the brand under which the product is sold. To avoid purchasing a low-quality battery, you should pay attention to the type of markings applied to the battery body and its packaging.

If the instructions are not translated into Russian, then this fact should also alert the potential buyer.

To be sure that the product will hold a charge for a long time, you should always check the expiration date of the product before purchasing. If the battery's end date is close, prolonged self-discharge will significantly reduce battery life.

Sergey Firsov

Prototype Power Supply Specialist

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How many amps are in the battery?

04.05.2019

Sometimes it is simply necessary to know the current strength because it determines whether your device can work or not. For example, there are salt batteries that have few amperes. They work great in an LED flashlight, and they also perform well in some toys. But such a device as a camera simply cannot be pulled out.

How many amperes are in AA batteries?

So, there are not so many of them in a regular AA galvanic cell. We measured a new Chinese-made DURACELL energy source. Its voltage was 1.61 volts before measurements began. It turned out that it produces 1.9-2 A or 1900 - 2000 milliamps. The picture shows a similar element but slightly discharged.

Type AAA is smaller in size so it carries less current. You can read about how many amperes there are in this article.

Thus, using a simple multimeter you can find out how many milliamps are in the battery.

Some people also wonder what current is in the battery, constant or alternating? Of course he is permanent. The alternating current flows into a 220 volt network. That is, in your home outlet.

You can determine the short circuit current of a battery using a tester called a multimeter or ammeter.

Measuring the flat element of the tablet

Using the tester, measurements were made of the LR44 energy source. As a result of these measurements, it was found that it produces 0.12 amperes.

How many amps are in the battery? Link to main publication

Popular models from Energizer and Duracell

Both American manufacturers have been known to Russian consumers for quite some time. In their reviews, they give preference to the two most popular models of AAA batteries: Duracell Duralock (about 200 rubles) and Energizer Extreme (260 rubles). Their technical indicators are the same: capacity 800 mAh, number of recharge cycles – 1000. Both are sold in a charged state, which indicates their low self-discharge current. And although Duracell guarantees 5 years of uninterrupted operation for its product, most likely, under the same operating conditions, Energizer will last no less. Which AAA batteries are better can only be finally determined by one’s own experience of using them, and with the same energy consumer. Otherwise, the comparison will be very incorrect.

How many Milliamps are in a AA Battery?

Testing of AA batteries.

I’ll allow myself to copy-paste, but I really couldn’t get past this burning note about comparing batteries. Or remember how many milliamps it is, etc., and to the ammeter battery. I think this topic will be close to many people. So

Every time I bought batteries, I thought: which ones are better. There are many batteries at about the same cost, there are cheap batteries sold exclusively in certain stores - Ikea, FlexPower, Okay, there are expensive Duracell, Energizer batteries. Are expensive batteries always better than cheap ones?

I've been wanting to compare batteries for a long time, and finally I did it.

The iMAX B6 was used for testing. Any battery was discharged with a current of 0.2A until it could produce such a current. To prove the results, I tested two copies of certain batteries. My experiments took almost two months, because testing each battery took about 10 hours. How many milliamps are in a AA battery? All results are in the table.

Measured battery capacity in milliamp-hours. How many Amperes are in one AA battery and let it be on a AA battery. The voltage was measured on the battery two minutes after the start of the test. After the battery “died”, it was left for some time (usually half an hour) and the test was carried out again, while still giving off a certain amount of energy - “Capacity 2”. The price of 1 ampere hour is indicated in the last column.

Measuring the capacity of AA batteries. How many milliamps are in a Duracell alkaline AA battery? And how many milliamps in. Is it worth buying Duracell at all?

The usual method of quickly checking a AA battery using a multimeter is shown. Link to article.

How to check the battery

The best battery turned out to be SUPERMAX, its capacity is 390 mAh. CAPACITY TEST OF ALKALINE BATTERIES.

The results look more clear in the diagram

A table sorted by cost per amp hour shows which batteries are the best value.

1. It’s stupid to take ordinary Duracell and Energizer batteries. They are no better than batteries, which are 2-4 times cheaper.2. On a battery that is for a finger-type battery. The reason for self-discharge lies in the battery itself. All answers to the question: How many milliamps are in a AA battery? At Answerof.org. Come in quickly. Duracell Turbo Max for 38 rubles is naturally good batteries, but not as much as they demand.3. The capacity of salt batteries is three times less than that of the cheapest alkaline (alkaline) batteries.4. Trophy, Okay - not very great batteries.5. Duracell is better than Energizer. 6. GP, Photon, Epoch, Cosmos are excellent batteries, the difference in capacity is less than 10%.7. The most profitable batteries are Ikea and FlexPower, but they are sold exclusively in Ikea and F-center stores, respectively.8. The capacity of AAA batteries is almost three times less than AA.

9. It may be that under certain conditions (for example, when discharging with high currents) expensive Duracell batteries can be more efficient than when discharging with an average current, but it is unlikely that their capacity will be as higher, the same Ikea, as their cost is higher (at 5.5 once).

Rules of operation and disposal

If the LR03 1.5v battery has already completely used up its energy supply, then replace it with a new product. Alkaline batteries have a low self-discharge, so they can be purchased for future use if you have to replace the battery too often.

During operation, avoid excessive electrical loads, polarity violations, and overheating of the product. They can be used at sub-zero air temperatures, but this does not mean that they can be taken with you on a winter expedition to the Arctic.

The interpretation of the symbols on the case or packaging of LR03 1.5v batteries clearly indicates that the product cannot be disposed of with household waste.

If you need to get rid of the battery, it is better to return it to the store where it was purchased. If this cannot be done, then you should look for special containers in electronics supermarkets.

The most popular AAA batteries from German manufacturers

Among the “Germans,” the most famous and trusted battery manufacturers are Varta and Ansmann. Among owners of portable equipment with high energy consumption (such as flash units), AAA batteries from both companies with the Professional index are very popular. The cost of both models with a capacity of 1000 mAh (Varta Professional AAA and Ansmann Professional AAA) is approximately the same and amounts to 170-180 rubles. The only difference: Varta guarantees 1500 recharge cycles, and Ansmann - only 1000. Although, in our deep conviction, this is unlikely to radically affect the life expectancy of the product. During so-called idle time (that is, not using the battery for its intended purpose) for a year, both devices retain up to 85% of the original charge.