Currently, the most popular galvanic cells for powering various portable equipment, for example, cameras, electrical measuring instruments, flashlights, watches, etc. are AA batteries, which are commonly called finger batteries. The operating principle of these elements is based on the galvanic effect, which occurs due to the interaction of two electrodes in the electrolyte.
Next, we will provide you with an overview of AA-size power sources, namely, we will tell you what characteristics AA batteries have, what is included in their composition, what methods exist for recharging AA batteries, what is the capacity of AA batteries, what power do AA batteries have, and also which manufacturers of these batteries are most popular at present.
Characteristics of aa batteries
For those who are encountering this topic for the first time, it is not clear what AA batteries look like. First of all, they are an elongated cylinder. At one end of which there is a convex tubercle. This is the positive pole. The second end is made in the form of a flat disk. Sometimes there is also a barely noticeable protrusion in the form of a pimple. Which is separated by a layer of dielectric material. This insulation prevents the two poles from touching.
The manufacturer sticks a label on the zinc cup. On it, the first thing that catches the consumer’s eye is the brand and type of battery. Also, according to the laws of the genre, technical information about the expiration date, production date, voltage and much more is written in small print.
The main marking is the inscription aa or AA. It means that this is a class of finger-type batteries of a certain size.
- Type duracell aa
- Chemistry or electrolyte. In this case, lye.
- MN1500 is a specific marking. Possibly denotes capacity in mAh.
- Date of manufacture.
- Brand.
- Negative pole.
- Positive contact.
Main technical characteristics of aa type AA battery
Let us highlight a number of important parameters.
Battery size aa
Dimensions may vary depending on manufacturer. But usually they do not exceed a couple of millimeters.
Length: 50.5 mm.
The diameter of the positive contact is 5 mm.
The diameter of the negative pole is 14.5 mm.
The size is designated as AA or LR6 (lr06)
Contacts for AA batteries are made of metal. Do not expose them to moisture. This provokes the formation of corrosion.
The English inscription on the case “Do not recharge” indicates the impossibility of charging.
How much does an AA battery weigh?
The weight fluctuates around 22 grams.
GOST for AA batteries
Each company has its own standards for different energy sources.
Capacity
- left 550 – 1550 mAh
- Alkaline from 2700 milliamps to 3000.
- Lithium 3000 – 3500 mAh. Marked as FR
Voltage or voltage: 1.5 v.
Chemistry: alkaline, salt, casting.
Current strength
It depends on the internal and external resistance of the battery. Everyone's strength is different. As a result, the AA battery produces approximately 750 mAh. Power is quite unstable and can drop quickly.
Expiration date of AA batteries
These batteries can last from 1 to 5 years! If they have not been used for 3-4 years, then most likely they will be discharged.
Safety precautions
It's easy to check the current strength. It is enough to connect the multimeter in accordance with the operating rules. It is necessary to follow the instructions in order not to violate safety precautions:
- The device is connected in a de-energized state.
- Pre-inspect the insulation on the wires. With a long service life, its integrity is compromised. There is a possibility of receiving an electric shock.
- You only need to measure amperes while wearing rubber gloves.
- Measurements are prohibited in rooms with high humidity. Moisture has high electrical conductivity. The risk of injury increases several times.
- Anyone who has suffered an electric shock, regardless of its power, must be urgently taken to the nearest medical center. It is forbidden to work with electricity alone. In an emergency, your partner can call an ambulance.
- It is strictly forbidden to work with devices that spark or are broken when connected to analog power sources, for example, to a battery, batteries or power supply. All this can lead to electric shock. Not too strong, but capable of harming the human nervous system and heart.
- It is forbidden to use a multimeter after an impact, just as it is forbidden to glue it with tape or insulating tape. It is better to use a new device or entrust it to a specialist for repair and testing for suitability.
After using the multimeter device, the cables that were cut are connected with the circuit de-energized.
A multimeter is a device that is simply impossible to do without in everyday life and other areas. Having even the most minimal knowledge of its operation, you can repair the devices. Knowing the indications, it is easy to determine their unsuitability.
A multimeter is a multifunctional device for measuring various parameters of electric current, so it can also be used to check the battery charge. To perform this work, you can use different types of multimeters. The cost of the product does not matter, the main thing is that the digital or analog measuring device is in good condition. How to check the battery with a multimeter will be discussed below.
Rechargeable aa batteries
This type of battery can last quite a long time. In addition, they can be recharged many times. There are drives that can be restored up to 1000 times.
The capacity of such 1.5 volt batteries ranges from 1800 – 3000 mAh.
An external battery based on similar elements turns out to be quite good.
Charging takes about 3 hours. But here it all depends on the capacity.
It is better to recharge using a professional charger with an indicator, purchased in a store.
Useful tips
Here are some recommendations regarding the use of batteries and their disposal:
- Do not delay in checking and sorting batteries accumulated at home. If new batteries are unavailable or there are insufficient quantities, you can temporarily use tested ones if necessary.
- Dead batteries in a household appliance do not need to be completely replaced. Typically, their discharge does not occur simultaneously, and the test will identify batteries that can be used further.
- Do not store unusable batteries at home and, especially, do not keep them in the equipment case. Electrolyte often leaks from them, and this leads to damage to nearby things.
- Do not attempt to damage the battery housing in any way - the liquid contained in it (acid or alkali) may contact your skin, causing a chemical burn.
In addition, used batteries should not be thrown into trash bins. The electrolyte they contain is harmful to the environment, so batteries must be disposed of in places specifically designed for this purpose.
Box for aa batteries
The compartment is for carrying. This way the batteries will be most protected from moisture and short circuits. Most often, containers for type AA elements are made of plastic. But sometimes you can find homemade paper boxes.
A regular snap bag can also serve as a case. This packaging is impervious to moisture and dust. Housings are made for different numbers of energy sources. On sale there are cases with a lid for 6-8 AA batteries. Such cassettes last for a long time. So they are quite durable.
In principle, if you show a little ingenuity, you can make an aa block with your own hands. You just need to find a suitable box and make a rectangular container from it. Such a device will help out if there is a need for carrying.
Check internal resistance
To check the battery for serviceability using a multimeter, you need to measure the internal resistance of the battery. You can check the functionality of the power source using a multimeter and a powerful 12 V light bulb. You need to check the battery in the following sequence:
- The 12 V lamp is connected to the battery.
- After a few seconds of the lamp glowing, the voltage at the battery terminals is measured.
- The lamp turns off and the voltage is measured again.
If the measurement difference does not exceed 0.05 V, then the battery is in good condition.
In the case where the voltage drop is greater, the internal resistance of the power source will be higher, which indirectly will indicate a significant deterioration in the technical condition of the battery.
In this way, it is possible to fairly accurately check the power source for serviceability.
AA battery holder
This device is designed to secure AA types. Usually it is a plastic container. On the one hand, it is covered, and on the other, it is open. Inside there are contacts, some of which are made of metal plates. And the other part is made in the form of springs.
Black and red wires come out of this plastic box from the outside. You can make a similar holder for aa types yourself. To do this you will need:
- Scissors.
- Scotch.
- Plastic bottle.
- Empty cigarette packs.
- Wires for outputting electricity.
Thus, almost anyone can make this device.
General verification procedure
Basic functions and modes of the multimeter.
A digital multimeter is better for checking batteries; it gives accurate results. To perform testing, the probes are connected to the sockets of the tester, and it switches to the desired operating mode. The black probe is connected to the negative terminal, the red one to the positive terminal. First, the positive contact is connected.
If the connection is made correctly, the current voltage in volts will appear on the screen. By comparing the result with the table, you can understand whether the battery is suitable for further use, what device it is suitable for, and how much charge is left.
Adapter for AA batteries
If you want to convert a standard battery into a larger one, for example, type “C”, then you will need an adapter. Fortunately, the industry is currently producing such installations.
In stores it costs 30-50 rubles.
What parameters can be checked?
Using a multimeter, you can measure voltage with high accuracy. By the magnitude of the electrical voltage, you can determine whether the battery is charged or the element needs to be charged with direct current.
Using a multimeter, you can check the voltage not only of acid batteries, but also of cell phone batteries. To check the mobile phone's battery charge level, the device is switched to the mode for measuring direct current up to 20 V. In this mode, the digital device allows you to measure voltage with an accuracy of hundredths of a volt.
The screwdriver battery can also be easily checked with a multimeter. The rated voltage of the device, in this case, can be found out from the documentation of the power tool, and if the voltage is less than this value, then the battery must be charged.
The battery capacity can also be checked with a multimeter. For this purpose, you can use several methods.
You can check current leakage using a multimeter. If it is necessary to measure this parameter on a car, then in addition to the current leakage on the body, the leakage in the vehicle’s on-board network is also checked.
In this way, you can prevent rapid discharge of the battery and increase its service life.
Dummy AA battery
This thing serves as a substitute for a real power source. It can also be used as a toy for children. Real batteries are dangerous to give to children due to possible toxic elements. And these are almost harmless. The only thing a child can do with them is swallow. Therefore, older children can play with them.
A do-it-yourself dummy AA battery is made from ordinary cardboard or 5 milliliter syringes. The picture below shows how such plastic things replace real energy sources in the camera.
A wire protrudes from this device, to which you can connect any 3-volt power source. In some cases this approach is convenient.
Here's what you'll need:
- 2 syringes 5 ml or cardboard/paper.
- Metal round plates from old batteries.
- Wires.
- A capacitor can be used as an energy storage device.
Next, a dummy is made from all this as shown in the picture above. The main thing is not to confuse the polarity.
Popular manufacturers
To know how to choose a quality source, you need to look at its manufacturer. The highest quality AA batteries are made by such manufacturers as Duracell, Phillips, Energizer, Vartra, Robiton, GP, Canyon, Minamoto, Panasonic.
Average quality power supplies are produced by manufacturers such as Cosmos, Photon, Sony, Samsung and Lexman. The sources with the poorest quality are made by little-known companies, for example, Eastpower, Flash, Navigator, etc. For alkaline elements, the quality parameters have a slight spread, so when purchasing them, the name of the manufacturer’s company can not be taken into account.
If you look at the capacity and the number of disadvantages, then it is better not to buy the carbon type, since they have low power and the worst performance in terms of cost and quality. Also, due to their quality, these AA batteries are not produced by leading brands.
Power bank on AA batteries
There are two options to get a Power Bank:
- Buy in store.
- Do it yourself.
The first one is the simplest. The second one is a little more complicated.
A power bank with AA batteries is not very efficient and not very profitable.
For self-assembly you will need:
- 4 batteries or more.
- USB connector.
- The wire.
- In some cases, a controller, resistor, or LED may be required.
- Diodes.
What is a multimeter
It is easy to check battery cells at home with a multimeter. This is a measuring device that can perform several tasks:
The convenient thing about this device is that all measurements are carried out by it alone, without the need to have many different meters. In addition, in most cases it is portable, that is, you can measure the parameters of electrical circuits both in the field and at home.
Most multimeters (also called testers) themselves run on batteries.
How much do AA batteries cost?
At the moment, for 1 finger-type battery they are asking from 36 rubles. This cost is very conditional. You can get it cheaper from the Chinese on the market. It all depends on the brand and what type, regular or rechargeable.
Don't overlook online stores. You can easily select the power source you need or order a whole set at an attractive price.
So you just got a review of aa batteries. This article has come to an end, we wish you good luck!
Capacity and current
The capacity of the AA battery will determine how long the cell can power the tool connected to it. The higher the value of this parameter, the longer the device will operate. For the salt type, the capacity ranges from 550 mAh to 1500 mAh. For alkiline ones - from 1000 mAh to 2980 mAh. Lithium batteries have an energy capacity of 2000mAh to 3000mAh.
The current strength depends on the resistance of the element. In 2 AA AA batteries it is 750 mAh. In this case, the voltage is 1.5V.
The second method is just as simple
This will require “spare parts” from old cars.
If you have them in the garage, then you can make a homemade load fork like this:
- take a ground switch from an old car, for example, from a GAZelle;
- extract two additional resistors for the fan from the garage;
- add clamps and wires to the circuit.
The general technical characteristics of such a device will be as follows: resistor resistance from 0.23 Ohm (can be a little more or less), operating current (taking into account fan cooling) - 15 amperes , standard voltage - 12 volts . As for resistors of this particular type, their advantage is that they have built-in fuses that trip in case of overheating inside the circuit. If one resistor is used, the load indicator with it will be 50 amperes, and if two are in parallel, then, accordingly, 100 amperes.
Conclusion
The portable power supply market is filled with a variety of brands. They meet all requests from various consumers. High capacity, low weight, long life, high voltage - the list goes on and on.
An important factor is the price factor. Every buyer will be able to find something suitable according to their price range. Naturally, price affects quality - this aspect should be taken into account when purchasing a power source. The more popular and expensive the brand, it is believed that it will last longer.
When purchasing power supplies at retail, the user pays more. Experienced buyers advise purchasing batteries in packages of several pieces. The cost of a “wholesale” purchase will be less, and therefore more profitable.
The cost in online stores may differ from the purchase from the “counter”. This factor is based on the lack of payment to sellers, store rental and other nuances. But it is advisable to order in stores with free delivery, otherwise a “cheap” battery purchased on the Internet will cost more than a battery purchased from the “counter”.
Good luck choosing portable power sources.
Non-standard solution to the issue
In this case, the load fork is made in an even more interesting way, using a sewer pipe carefully cut in the longitudinal direction.
Here is a diagram of the plug design, designed to test the resistance indicators of 12-volt batteries with a capacity of several tens of ampere-hours:
- constant wire , 12 turns with an internal winding diameter of 38 mm;
- M8 studs are welded to the ends of the wire ;
- all this can fit perfectly into a sewer pipe if its diameter is 50 mm ;
- the gap is closed with a second piece of the same pipe;
- are installed on the sides , and the structure is ready.
Technical parameters: resistance value is about 0.1 Ohm , current at a voltage of 12 volts is from 110 to 120 amperes . The duration of the load in this case should be minimal, no more than 3-5 seconds (unfortunately, the device heats up very quickly). All battery indicators are measured in the same way, using a voltmeter of any type. When creating such a plug, it is recommended to use the table for calculating the resistance of wires of various lengths.
Charger
Using a charger, it becomes possible to use portable power sources reusably. They come in two types:
- simple - battery charging function is available;
- professional - have rich functionality (display with voltage, setting the current manually, turning off the device after restoring capacity, checking for functionality).
