Alkaline

Premium general purpose

Increasingly popular premium tier, all purpose, portable power technology.

Main applications: Continuous high rate discharge, longer life applications such as wireless devices, infusion pumps, motorised devices and smoke alarms.

The main sizes are:

Technical - Alkaline Manganese Dioxide - IEC Code LR

Alkaline batteries are the premium form of the must widely used chemistry - manganese/zinc. Generally lasting between 2 - 5 times longer than the cheaper zinc chloride and zinc carbon, the key features are:

• Primary, non-rechargeable
• Higher energy density than Zinc Carbon/Chloride technology
• Ability to operate at relatively high discharge rates
• Shelf life in excess of seven years
• Nominal voltage 1.5V
• Maximum open circuit voltage ranging from 1.65V
• Energy density 163 Wh/kg - 398 Wh/L
• Temperature range -20°C to 60
• Available in cylindrical (eg. AA), battery (e.g. 9V) and button formats.

Technical - Nickel Oxyhydroxide ('Oxyride') - IEC Code ZR

The new alkaline for high rate applications.

• Primary, non-rechargeable
• Nominal voltage 1.5V
• Maximum open circuit voltage 1 .7V
• Excellent high rate capability > 2Amps
• Energy density 165 Wh/kg - 400 Wh/L but more efficiently realised under high rate discharge conditions
• Temperature range -20°C to 60°C
  

* While generally compatible with standard alkaline technology, the higher operating voltage and power delivery mean that this should be confirmed with the device manufacturer.

Available in cylindrical (eg. AA, AAA) format.

Applications are: digital and film cameras, MP4 players