Batteries: Difference between revisions

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::*Old batteries often leak, causing corrosions of the battery contacts, so preventing new batteries from working.
::*Old batteries often leak, causing corrosions of the battery contacts, so preventing new batteries from working.
::*Lithium batteries can catch fire and burn violently if over-charged, shorted, punctured, or physically damaged in any way.
::*Lithium batteries can catch fire and burn violently if over-charged, shorted, punctured, or physically damaged in any way.
::*Button cells must be kept away from small children. If swallowed, this is a '''medical emergency''' as death can result in just a few hours, as a result of electrochemical action in the stomach.


==How batteries work==
==How batteries work==
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|Comments
|Comments
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|Zinc Chloride
|Zinc carbon and zinc chloride
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*Cheap.
*Cheap.
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*Short life and slow death.
*Short life and slow death.
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Zinc chloride is a heavier duty version of zinc carbon.
Alkaline batteries are preferred in almost all applications.
Alkaline batteries are preferred in almost all applications.
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Revision as of 16:28, 5 April 2017

All you need to know about batteries.

Summary

There are various types of battery based on different chemistries. To get the best out of them and to avoid problems you need a basic understanding of their advantages and disadvantages, as well as a little about purchasing, maintaining and disposing of them.

Safety

Warning03.png
  • Old batteries often leak, causing corrosions of the battery contacts, so preventing new batteries from working.
  • Lithium batteries can catch fire and burn violently if over-charged, shorted, punctured, or physically damaged in any way.
  • Button cells must be kept away from small children. If swallowed, this is a medical emergency as death can result in just a few hours, as a result of electrochemical action in the stomach.

How batteries work

(You can skip this section if you like, though a little more knowledge than you actually need is always helpful.)

Non-rechargeable (primary) batteries

Type Advantages Disadvantages Comments
Zinc carbon and zinc chloride
  • Cheap.
  • Available in standard shapes and sizes.
  • Short life and slow death.

Zinc chloride is a heavier duty version of zinc carbon. Alkaline batteries are preferred in almost all applications.

Alkaline
  • Good life at a reasonable cost.
  • Available in standard shapes and sizes, and also as button cells as cheap alternatives to silver and mercury.
This is the most economic general purpose type.
Silver and Mercury
  • Long life
  • Relatively expensive
  • Can only deliver a small current

Normally only available as button cells for watches and calculators.

Lithium
  • Very long shelf and service lives.
  • Relatively expensive.

Mainly used in smoke alarms and cameras.

Rechargeable (secondary) batteries

Lead Acid

Nickel Cadmium

Nickel Metal Hydride

Lithium

External links

  • Battery University