Battery Sizes

[dunnyrail]

Battery sizes I had suggested on reading about differing Battery Sizes causing issues with Battery Holders that this sounded like a good job for Mr Digital Callipers. Mr Stockers suggested that this might be of interesting use to the Forum in general. So Compliance.

What I did was to measure just the Width (all in MM) of the varying Batteries that I had in the House. It was a surprisingly long list that was generated. I used my Lidl purchased Callipers and feel that they will be pretty accurate. They certainly highlighted some quite significant differences.

So first off the AA NiMh ones that I have kicking around. Note that I have trashed all of my NiCad so cannot give any data for his type.

Width Mah Type and Maker
14.32 2500 Tronic Energy Lidl
14.25 2000 Fuji Film
14.17 2000 Maplin R6
14.15 2000 Energizer
14.05 1300 Uniross
14.05 1600 Sanyo Twicell
14.05 1300 Jessops
14.02 150 recovered from a Garden Light
13.88 1500 Dixons

Now the Alkaline AA's

14.08 Maplin LR6
14.07 Duracell LR6
14.05 Maxel LR6 (GD)
14.04 Varta 12-2026
13.99 Energizer LR6
13.97 Panasonic LR6 (GA)
13.97 B&Q LR6
13.95 Phillips LR6
13.94 Tesco LR6
13.88 Energizer 12-2026
13.85 Sainsbury's R6
13.78 Lamunia R6P (R) China
13.60 Dial LR6
12.55 Osel LR6

Finally I have only 2 AAA types

10.29 Tronic 900 Lidl NiMh
10.21 Rayovac LR03 Alkaline

This has proved to be an interesting excersize and I have to say that the difference between the Top and Bottom of the lists is quite surprising. You would think that making a battery would be a simple process in terms of achieving commonality of size. Obviously not in this Customer First Commercial World!

Having done this I realise that I probably should have done the Length as well. Dratt, if I do it I will add those dimensions to this original and put a post in later saying that I have done so.
JonD

 

[stockers]

Good bit of research Jon. I agree - that is a fair difference.

 

[spoz]

Indeed - and it backs up the intuitive feel from trying to mount/demount various types. I might ahve to do someting similar for the brands I can get my hands on in this country.

Steve

 

[dunnyrail]

Indeed - and it backs up the intuitive feel from trying to mount/demount various types. I might ahve to do someting similar for the brands I can get my hands on in this country.

Steve

Good idea, you will probably also like I did be surprised by the differing makes kicking around the homestead.
JonD

 

[GAP]

I have noticed in the AA NiMh batteries I have that some have a substantial covering while the cheap Chinese ones have only a thin heatshrink covering, possibly that would be one cause of the variances in diameter.

I also noted that some compress the spring in holders almost flat while others do not but after saying that the same batteries in different holders compress the spring differently.

Size standardization is surely lacking.

 

[dunnyrail]

I have noticed in the AA NiMh batteries I have that some have a substantial covering while the cheap Chinese ones have only a thin heatshrink covering, possibly that would be one cause of the variances in diameter.

I also noted that some compress the spring in holders almost flat while others do not but after saying that the same batteries in different holders compress the spring differently.

Size standardization is surely lacking.

When I get chance I will certainly have to update the list with the length measurement. This will need to be over the Contacts so insulating one end of the Metal Calipers will be essential! Do not know why I did not think of this when I did the original measurements as I have found that some are trickier to fit in holders lengthwise. Doh.
JonD

 

[Beddhist]

Interesting, I had the opposite experience. When travelling in China I had to buy new NiMH batteries for my Canon camera. Two of its 4 slots are tighter than the others. The batteries go into tubes, end first and would not fit into the tighter ones, so I had to strip off the outer plastic layer.