Which Size of Battery to Choose For Electronics Works : AA, AAA, D, C

Commonly available consumer grade batteries have many sizes like AA, AAA, D, C and all are of them are 1.5v but there are matters which need calculations. Which size of battery to choose for electronics works depends on how much load for how many hours we will put on them and how much current we want. This topic is one of the basic topic and for odd reason, AA batteries are more promoted in the market as AA batteries are common in consumer grade portable electronic devices. All are single cell cylindrical dry batteries.

Which Size of Battery to Choose For Electronics Works? Think About the Old Transistor Radios

1995 is too old days in 2017 than 2005. There was almost nothing in our everyday lives in 1995. Before 1995, there were old transistor radios which were powered by D size heavy duty batteries, also there were flashlights which used D size batteries. Still in remote places on this earth where electricity supply is not consistent, transistor radios powered by D size heavy duty batteries are not rare to see.

All batteries are of 1.5v. D size batteries are selling since 1898, all others came within 1920. If I throw a D size heavy duty battery with metal casing targeting your head, that is a serious matter! Whereas throwing a AAA battery targeting your head is a joke compared to D. The weight to some extent is of the volume of chemicals inside. The larger C and D batteries can supply more current than the smaller AA batteries. Capacity (all carbon–zinc) of AA 1100 mAh, whereas D size have 8000 1100 mAh.

Components like DC motors, speakers will only draw the current they require. Bigger batteries have longer battery life mainly due to larger amount of chemicals inside. When their power is draining away, they do perform good after keeping them several hours under sunlight – their surface area is larger.

There is matter of internal resistance. Which depends also upon battery size; the thicker the battery, the lower will be the resistance.From all points, D size batteries are better, C size also good. Heavy duty batteries with metal casing are leak proof.

Batteries give more usable energy at lower power than higher power. By putting additional cells in parallel, we can reduce the power drawn per cell and will get more energy, more runtime. It would work the same way for adding more cells in series except changing the battery’s operating voltage range. Rechargeable batteries actually good for many purposes particularly if you have solar panel to recharge and case with mini voltmeter.