Standard battery nomenclature describes portable dry cell batteries that have physical dimensions and electrical characteristics interchangeable between manufacturers. The long history of disposable dry cells means that many manufacturer-specific and national standards were used to designate sizes, long before international standards were reached. Technical standards for battery sizes and types are set by standards organizations such as International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Popular sizes are still referred to by old standard or manufacturer designations, and some non-systematic designations have been included in current international standards due to wide use.
The complete nomenclature for the battery will fully specify the size, chemistry, terminal arrangements, and special characteristics of a battery. The same physically interchangeable cell size may have widely different characteristics; physical interchangeability is not the sole factor in substitution of batteries.
National standards for dry cell batteries have been developed by ANSI, JIS, British national standards, and others. Civilian, commercial, government, and military standards all exist. Two of the most prevalent standards currently in use are the IEC 60086 series and the ANSI C18.1 series. Both standards give dimensions, standard performance characteristics, and safety information.
Modern standards contain both systematic names for cell types that give information on the composition and approximate size of the cells, as well as arbitrary numeric codes for cell size.
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) was established in France in 1906 and co-ordinates development of standards for a wide range of electrical products. The IEC maintains two committees, TC21 established in 1933 for rechargeable batteries, and TC35 established in 1948 for primary batteries, to develop standards. [1] The current designation system was adopted in 1992. Battery types are designated with a letter/number sequence indicating number of cells, cell chemistry, cell shape, dimensions, and special characteristics. Certain cell designations from earlier revisions of the standard have been retained. [2]
The first IEC standards for battery sizes were issued in 1957. [3] Since 1992, International standard IEC 60086 defines an alphanumeric coding system for batteries. [2] [4] British standard 397 for primary batteries was withdrawn and replaced by the IEC standard in 1996. [5]
This section needs additional citations for verification .(October 2013) |
Standardization of batteries in the United States started in 1919, when the US National Bureau of Standards published recommended test procedures and standard dimensions of cells. [6] American standards were revised several times during the following decades, as new sizes of cells were introduced and new chemistry developed, including chloride, alkaline, mercury and rechargeable types.
The first American Standards Association (predecessor to ANSI) standard C18 appeared in 1928. It listed cell sizes using a letter code, roughly in order of size from smallest (A) to larger types. The only numerical designation was the 6-inch tall "No. 6" cell. The older "No. 1" through "No. 5" batteries were discontinued, each being 1 to 5 inches high respectively, although the similarly sized Burgess No. 1 (C cell) and No. 2 (D cell) were still produced under that name through the 1950s. Eventually, the No. 6 was phased out by the 1970s and slowly replaced with the 6-volt four-cell battery. The 1934 edition of the C18 standard expanded the nomenclature system to include series and parallel arrays of cells. In 1954, mercury batteries were included in the standard. The 1959 edition identified types suitable for use with transistor radios. In 1967, NEMA took over responsibility for development from the National Bureau of Standards. The 12th edition of C18 began to be harmonized with the IEC standard. Rechargeable batteries were introduced in the C18 standard in 1984, and lithium types were standardized in 1991.
In 1999 the ANSI standards were extensively revised and separate safety standards provided. The current edition of the ANSI standards designates sizes with an arbitrary number, with a prefix letter to designate shape, and with a suffix letter or letters to identify different chemistry, terminals, or other features.
This section needs additional citations for verification .(May 2019) |
Three different technical committees of IEC make standards on batteries: TC21 (lead-acid), SC21 (other secondary) and TC35 (primary). Each group has published standards relating to the nomenclature of batteries - IEC 60095 for lead-acid starter batteries, IEC 61951-1 and 61951-2 for Ni-Cd and Ni-MH batteries, IEC 61960 for Li-ion, and IEC 60086-1 for primary batteries.
Examples of the IEC nomenclature are batteries coded R20, 4R25X, 4LR25-2, 6F22, 6P222/162, CR17345 and LR2616J. The letters and numbers in the code indicate the number of cells, cell chemistry, shape, dimensions, the number of parallel paths in the assembled battery and any modifying letters deemed necessary. A multi-section battery (two or more voltages from the same package) will have a multi-section designation.
Prior to October 1990, round cells were designated with a sequential numeric size code ranging from R06 through to R70, for example R20 is the size of a "D" cell or ANSI"13" size. After October 1990, round cells are systematically identified with a number derived from their diameter and height. Primary cells larger than 100 mm in diameter or height are designated with an oblique "/" between diameter and height.
Designation | Series Cells | System | Shape | Standardized code or diameter code | Diameter modifier | Height code | Height adjustment modifier | Modifier(s) | Parallel strings | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
R20 | R | 20 | A single zinc-carbon cell, "size 20" which is equivalent to D, or ANSI "13" size | |||||||
4R25X | 4 | R | 25 | X | A zinc-carbon lantern battery, consisting of 4 round "size 25" cells in series. Terminated with spring terminals. | |||||
4LR25-2 | 4 | L | R | 25 | 2 | An alkaline lantern battery, consisting of 2 parallel strings of 4 round "size 25" cells in series | ||||
6F22 | 6 | F | 22 | A zinc-carbon rectangular battery, consisting of 6 flat "size 22" cells. Equivalent to a PP3 or transistor battery. | ||||||
6P222/162 | 6 | P | 222 | 162 | A zinc-carbon battery, maximum dimensions: length 192 mm, width 113 mm, and height 162 mm. Consisting of 6 cells in series. | |||||
CR17345 | C | R | 17 | 345 | A single-cell round lithium cell, 17 mm diameter, 34.5 mm height | |||||
LR2616J | L | R | 26 | 16 | J | A single-cell round alkaline battery, 26.2 mm diameter, 1.67 mm height | ||||
LR8D425 | L | R | 8.5 | D | 425 | A single-cell round alkaline battery, 8.8 mm diameter (8.5 +0.3 for modifier) and 42.5 mm long, AAAA or ANSI "25" size |
The first letter identifies the chemical composition of the battery, which also implies a nominal voltage.
It is common to refer to the negative electrode first in IEC battery definitions.
Letter code | Negative electrode | Electrolyte | Positive electrode | Nominal voltage (V) | Maximum open circuit voltage (V) | Main article |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
(none) | Zinc | Ammonium chloride, Zinc chloride | Manganese dioxide | 1.5 | 1.725 | Zinc-carbon battery |
A | Zinc | Ammonium chloride, Zinc chloride | Oxygen | 1.4 | 1.55 | Zinc-air battery |
B | Lithium | Organic electrolyte | Carbon monofluoride | 3.0 | 3.7 | Lithium battery |
C | Lithium | Organic electrolyte | Manganese dioxide | 3.0 | 3.7 | |
E | Lithium | Non-aqueous inorganic electrolyte | Thionyl chloride | 3.6 | 3.9 | |
F | Lithium | Organic electrolyte | Iron disulfide | 1.5 | 1.83 | |
G | Lithium | Organic electrolyte | Copper(II) oxide | 1.5 | 2.3 | |
L | Zinc | Alkali metal hydroxide | Manganese dioxide | 1.5 | 1.65 | Alkaline battery |
M (withdrawn) | Zinc | Alkali metal hydroxide | Mercuric oxide | 1.35 | Mercury battery | |
N (withdrawn) | Zinc | Alkali metal hydroxide | Mercuric oxide, manganese dioxide | 1.4 | ||
P | Zinc | Alkali metal hydroxide | Oxygen | 1.4 | 1.68 | Zinc-air battery |
S | Zinc | Alkali metal hydroxide | Silver oxide | 1.55 | 1.63 | Silver-oxide battery |
Z | Zinc | Alkali metal hydroxide | Manganese dioxide, nickel oxyhydroxide | 1.5 | 1.78 | Nickel oxyhydroxide battery |
Italics indicate a chemical system unlikely to be found in consumer or general-purpose batteries, or withdrawn from the current standard.
Shape codes are:
The F and S shape codes are still in use but are not to be used for new battery definitions.
Certain sizes, given by one or two digit numbers, represent standard size codes from previous editions of the standard. Sizes given as 4 or more digits indicate the diameter of the battery and the overall height.
The numbers in the code correlate with the battery dimensions. For batteries with dimensions of < 100 mm the (truncated) diameter in millimetres, followed by the height in tenths of a millimetre; for batteries with a single dimension ≥ 100 mm the diameter in millimetres, then a slash (/) followed by the height in millimetres.
As well as the recommended size code definitions there are also ten modifying suffix letters that can be added to the end of the specific size code. These run from A to L (omitting F and I) and depending on the largest dimension of the battery can either signify 0.0 – 0.9 mm maximum dimensions or 0.00 – 0.09 mm maximum dimensions with A being 0.0 or 0.00 and L being 0.9 or 0.09.
For flat cells the diameter code is given as the diameter of a circle circumscribed around the whole cell's area.
You can help expand this section with text translated from the corresponding article in German. (June 2022)Click [show] for important translation instructions.
|
Standardized size codes for round batteries which do not follow the current nomenclature but have been retained for ease of use are given by a one or two digit number following the R. These include but are not limited to: [8]
Number code | Nominal diameter | Nominal height | Common name |
---|---|---|---|
R25 | 32 | 91 | F |
R20 | 34.2 | 61.5 | D |
R14 | 26.2 | 50.0 | C |
R6 | 14.5 | 50.5 | AA |
R1 | 12.0 | 30.2 | N |
R03 | 10.5 | 44.5 | AAA |
Round button batteries also carry two-digit size codes such as R44, see the button battery table for typical dimensions. Other round, flat, and square sizes have been standardized but are used mostly for components of multi-cell batteries.
The following is a partial list of IEC standard recommended diameter and height codes for round cells:
Number code | Maximum diameter | Maximum height |
---|---|---|
4 | 4.8 | |
5 | 5.8 | |
6 | 6.8 | |
7 | 7.9 | |
9 | 9.5 | |
10 | 10.0 | |
11 | 11.6 | |
12 | 12.5 | 1.20 |
16 | 16 | 1.60 |
20 | 20 | 2.00 |
23 | 23 | |
24 | 24.5 | |
25 | 2.50 | |
30 | 3.00 | |
36 | 3.60 | |
50 | 5.00 |
After the package size code(s), additional letters may optionally appear. Terminal styles and variants of the same battery can be designated with the letters X or Y. Performance levels may also be designated with a C, P, S, CF, HH, or HB or other letter suffixes. An appended letter "W" states that this battery complies with all the requirements of the IEC 60086-3 standard for watch batteries, such as dimensional tolerance, chemical leakage, and test methods.
IEC nomenclature classifies batteries according to their general shape and overall physical appearance. These categories, however, are not identified in the IEC battery nomenclature: [9] [10]
Nickel-cadmium and Nickel-metal hydride batteries follow a similar rule as the system above; [11] [12] especially cylindrical cells designed to be dimensionally interchangeable with primary batteries use the same designation as the primary batteries, the codes for electrochemical systems as below.
Letter code | Negative electrode | Positive electrode | Nominal voltage (V) | Main article |
---|---|---|---|---|
H | Hydrogen-absorbing alloy | Nickel oxide | 1.2 | Nickel-metal hydride battery |
K | Cadmium | Nickel oxide | 1.2 | Nickel-cadmium battery |
All other cells use the following system:
Lithium-ion batteries have a different rule for naming, which applies both to batteries of multiple cells and single cell. They will be designated as: [13]
N1A1A2A3N2/N3/N4-N5
where N1 denotes number of series connected cells and N5 denotes number of parallel connected cells (only when the number is greater than 1); these numbers only apply to batteries.
A1 indicates the basis of negative electrode phase, where I is for lithium ion and L is for lithium metal or alloy.
A2 indicates the basis of positive electrode phase, and could be C, N, M, V or T for cobalt, nickel, manganese, vanadium and titanium respectively.
A3 is for the shape of the cell; either R for cylinder or P for prism.
N2 is the maximum diameter (in case of cylindrical cells) or thickness (prismatic cells) in mm.
N3 is only used for prismatic cells to denote the maximum width in mm.
N4 is the maximum overall height in mm.
(For any of the lengths above, if the dimension is smaller than 1 mm it can be written as tN, where N is tenths of mm)
E.g. ICR19/66, ICP9/35/48, 2ICP20/34/70, 1ICP20/68/70-2
Early editions of the ANSI standard used a letter code to identify the dimensions of the cell. Since at the time there were only carbon-zinc cells, no suffix letters or other notation were required. The letter system was introduced in the 1924 edition of the standard, with letters A through J assigned approximately in order of increasing cell volume, for cells typically manufactured at that time. [6] By 1934, the system had been revised and extended to 17 sizes ranging from NS at 7⁄16 inch diameter by 3⁄4 inch height, through size J at 1+3⁄4 inches diameter by 5+7⁄8 inches high, to the largest standard cell which retained its old designation of No. 6 and which was 2+1⁄2 inches in diameter and 6 inches high.
The current edition of the standard uses a numerical code to show the cell size. Common round cell sizes are:
Number code | Other name | IEC size | Example |
---|---|---|---|
13 | D | R20 | |
14 | C | R14 | |
15 | AA | R6 | |
24 | AAA | R03 | |
25 | AAAA | R8D425 |
Since these IEC and ANSI battery standards have been harmonized, for example, an R20 cell will have the same dimensions as an ANSI 13 cell.
Flat cells, used as components of multi-cell batteries, have an F prefix and a series of numbers to identify sizes. Coin cells were assigned size codes in the 5000 range.
Secondary cells using systems H and K (nickel-metal hydride and nickel-iron sulfide) have a separate series of size codes, but the cells are dimensionally interchangeable with primary cells.
The electrochemical system and performance information is given in suffix letters.
Letter | Significance | IEC system letter |
---|---|---|
(none) | carbon-zinc | (none) |
A | alkaline | L |
AC | alkaline industrial | |
AP | alkaline photographic | |
C | carbon-zinc industrial | (none) |
CD | carbon zinc industrial, heavy duty | |
D | carbon zinc, heavy duty | |
F | carbon zinc, general purpose | |
H | nickel metal hydride (rechargeable) | H |
K | nickel cadmium (rechargeable) | K |
LB | lithium-carbon monofluoride | B |
LC | lithium-manganese dioxide | C |
LF | lithium-iron disulfide | F |
M (withdrawn) | mercuric oxide | M (withdrawn) |
SO | silver oxide | S |
SOP | silver oxide photographic | |
Z | zinc-air | P |
ZD | zinc-air, heavy duty |
A DC connector is an electrical connector for supplying direct current (DC) power.
IEC 60320 Appliance couplers for household and similar general purposes is a set of standards from the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) specifying non-locking connectors for connecting power supply cords to electrical appliances of voltage not exceeding 250 V (a.c.) and rated current not exceeding 16 A. Different types of connector are specified for different combinations of current, temperature and earthing requirements. Unlike IEC 60309 connectors, they are not coded for voltage; users must ensure that the voltage rating of the equipment is compatible with the mains supply. The standard uses the term coupler to encompass connectors on power cords and power inlets and outlets built into appliances.
The Unified Thread Standard (UTS) defines a standard thread form and series—along with allowances, tolerances, and designations—for screw threads commonly used in the United States and Canada. It is the main standard for bolts, nuts, and a wide variety of other threaded fasteners used in these countries. It has the same 60° profile as the ISO metric screw thread, but the characteristic dimensions of each UTS thread were chosen as an inch fraction rather than a millimeter value. The UTS is currently controlled by ASME/ANSI in the United States.
The AAA battery is a standard size of dry cell battery. One or more AAA batteries are commonly used in low-drain portable electronic devices. A zinc–carbon battery in this size is designated by IEC as R03, by ANSI C18.1 as 24, by old JIS standard as UM-4, and by other manufacturer and national standard designations that vary depending on the cell chemistry. The size was first introduced by The American Ever Ready Company in 1911. They're called #7 batteries in China, the name originating from the Burgess Battery Company designating his AAA batteries "Number 7".
A screw thread, is a helical structure used to convert between rotational and linear movement or force. A screw thread is a ridge wrapped around a cylinder or cone in the form of a helix, with the former being called a straight thread and the latter called a tapered thread. A screw thread is the essential feature of the screw as a simple machine and also as a threaded fastener.
The AA battery is a standard size single cell cylindrical dry battery. The IEC 60086 system calls the size R6, and ANSI C18 calls it 15. It is named UM-3 by JIS of Japan. Historically, it is known as D14, U12 – later U7, or HP7 in official documentation in the United Kingdom, or a pen cell.
A D battery is a standardized size of a dry cell. A D cell is cylindrical with an electrical contact at each end; the positive end has a nub or bump. D cells are typically used in high current drain applications, such as in large flashlights, radio receivers, and transmitters, and other devices that require an extended running time. A D cell may be either rechargeable or non-rechargeable. Its terminal voltage and capacity depend upon its cell chemistry.
Finnish vehicle registration plates usually carry three letters and three numbers separated with a dash, though vanity plates may carry 2-3 letters and 1-3 numbers. Since 1989 the code has no connection with the geographic location, except that Åland has its own type of plate. Between 1972/1973 and 1989 the first letter indicated where the vehicle was first registered as the plate did not have to be changed even if the vehicle was moved to another area of Finland.
The C battery is a standard size of dry cell battery typically used in medium-drain applications such as toys, flashlights, and musical instruments.
The nine-volt battery, or 9-volt battery, is an electric battery that supplies a nominal voltage of 9 volts. Actual voltage measures 7.2 to 9.6 volts, depending on battery chemistry. Batteries of various sizes and capacities are manufactured; a very common size is known as PP3, introduced for early transistor radios. The PP3 has a rectangular prism shape with rounded edges and two polarized snap connectors on the top. This type is commonly used for many applications including household uses such as smoke and gas detectors, clocks, and toys.
Automotive tires are described by an alphanumeric tire code or tyre code, which is generally molded into the sidewall of the tire. This code specifies the dimensions of the tire, and some of its key limitations, such as load-bearing ability, and maximum speed. Sometimes the inner sidewall contains information not included on the outer sidewall, and vice versa.
A button cell, watch battery, or coin battery is a small single-cell battery shaped as a squat cylinder typically 5 to 25 mm in diameter and 1 to 6 mm high – resembling a button. Stainless steel usually forms the bottom body and positive terminal of the cell; insulated from it, the metallic top cap forms the negative terminal.
The ISO metric screw thread is the most commonly used type of general-purpose screw thread worldwide. They were one of the first international standards agreed when the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) was set up in 1947.
The AAAA battery is 42.5 mm long and 8.3 mm in diameter. The alkaline cell weighs around 6.5 g and produces 1.5 V. This size battery is also classified as R8D425 (IEC) and 25 (ANSI/NEDA). The alkaline battery in this size is also known by Duracell type number MN2500 or MX2500 and Energizer type number E96.
A coaxial power connector is an electrical power connector used for attaching extra-low voltage devices such as consumer electronics to external electricity. Also known as barrel connectors, concentric barrel connectors or tip connectors, these small cylindrical connectors come in an enormous variety of sizes.
Automotive fuses are a class of fuses used to protect the wiring and electrical equipment for vehicles. They are generally rated for circuits no higher than 32 volts direct current, but some types are rated for 42-volt electrical systems. They are occasionally used in non-automotive electrical products. Automotive fuses are typically housed inside one or more fuse boxes within the vehicle, typically on one side of the engine compartment and/or under the dash near the steering wheel. Some fuses or circuit breakers may nonetheless be placed elsewhere, such as near the cabin fan or air bag controller. They also exist as circuit breakers that are resettable using a switch.
In electrical engineering, IEC 60269 is a set of technical standards for low-voltage power fuses. The standard is in four volumes, which describe general requirements, fuses for industrial and commercial applications, fuses for residential applications, and fuses to protect semiconductor devices. The IEC standard unifies several national standards, thereby improving the interchangeability of fuses in international trade. All fuses of different technologies tested to meet IEC standards will have similar time-current characteristics, which simplifies design and maintenance.
An N battery is a standard size of dry-cell battery. An N battery is cylindrical with electrical contacts on each end; the positive end has a bump on the top. The battery has a length of 30.2 mm (1.19 in) and a diameter of 12.0 mm (0.47 in), and is approximately three-fifths the length of a AA battery.
The A-series light bulb is the "classic" glass light bulb shape that has been the most commonly used type for general lighting service (GLS) applications since the early 20th century. It has a pear-like shape and is typically fitted to either an Edison screw or a bayonet cap base. The number that follows the "A" designation indicates the nominal major diameter of the bulb, either in one-eighth inch units in North America or in millimeters in the rest of the world.