Lithium and Alkaline - The Primary Battery

We all have used primary batteries. They are the ones you buy at the supermarket checkout stand. They are “use once and throw away” batteries. Also called alkaline batteries, primary batteries are what our parents and we have used for decades. Today, any battery that cannot be recharged, and needs to be disposed of is called a primary battery.

The word “primary” means the first of its kind. The term “primary battery” has developed to mean the first battery, the historical “non-rechargeable battery”. Most of us have used hundreds of primary batteries, and traditionally these non-rechargeable batteries were the first and only type we had to use.

Rechargeable batteries have been around for several decades, but recharging conventional AA, AAA, C-cell, or D-cell batteries is fairly new concept. It is only in the last five years that these commonly used batteries sizes could be reliably recharged for use. For a long time the concept of a rechargeable AA or AAA battery was not taken seriously. The technology was not developed enough to be trusted.

The two most popular types of Primary Batteries:

Alkaline – High energy density, long shelf life, leak resistant, performs under both light and heavy use. Does not last long with high-drain devices such as digital cameras. Comes in several sizes: AA, AAA, C-Cell, D-Cell, 9Volt, lantern batteries.

Lithium Cell – A new technology in primary batteries, also known as the “Lithium Metal Battery”, it has very high energy density, long shelf life, long operational life. If not used wisely, they are vulnerable to leaks or explosions. These batteries come in several sizes: AA, AAA, 3Volt, 6Volt, 9Volt, and various disk-shaped sizes.

Alkaline batteries have a sloping discharge curve reaching all the way to the cut-off voltage. With alkaline batteries the discharge curve slopes and the strength of the battery begins to weaken sooner. The battery’s power gradually tapers off until total discharge. This will become evident with a weakening signal in radio reception, or slower response in a digital camera.

Lithium batteries will last from 2 to 4 times longer than alkaline batteries. Lithium battery voltage does not degrade until the battery is nearly discharged, so you get full advantage of the battery’s rated capacity. Radio signals and response in digital cameras stays strong through most of the battery’s life. Lithium batteries handle varying temperature changes well and have a longer shelf life of 10 years.

By learning the discharge rate of your electronic device you can better determine how long the battery you choose will last. More on that to come.

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