Lithium ion batteries aaa. AAA lithium batteries. Adapters for large format batteries

Rechargeable batteries are gradually replacing conventional disposable batteries in a wide variety of household devices. By purchasing a set of rechargeable batteries and a charger once, you will save significant money (compared to regularly replacing standard batteries). In our review article we will try to tell you what AAA batteries better, as well as about their scope, leading manufacturers and popular models.

Classification and sizes

The classification of rechargeable batteries determines the clear correspondence of the size and shape of the product to its letter or alphanumeric designation(or the so-called form factor). Commonly called “little finger” batteries with a length of 44 mm and a diameter of 10 mm according to the American standard are designated by three Latin letters - AAA (in the international standardization system - HR03). Accordingly, AA batteries (HR6) are used instead of disposable AA batteries with a length of 50 mm and a diameter of 14 mm.

Varieties

Depending on the chemical composition technological elements included in technical device AAA batteries, such products are:

• Lithium polymer (Li-Pol). A design feature of such products is a micro-USB connector installed on the case, through which recharging is carried out using the cord included in the delivery package. Wide Application Such batteries have not yet been received due to their very high cost. For example, a set of two batteries (400 mAh capacity each) Rombica Neo X3 costs about 1,000 rubles. The advantages include increased voltage - 1.5 V.
• Nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd). These rechargeable AAA batteries have been popular for quite a long time. However, taking into account the highly toxic characteristics of cadmium and its derivatives, as well as increased modern requirements for human environmental safety and the environment, almost all leading manufacturers of this segment of rechargeable batteries have abandoned their production.
• Nickel metal hydride (Ni-MH). They are the most popular today and are perhaps the best AAA batteries. The choice of these products is very wide, as shown on Russian market manufacturers, both in terms of price and technical indicators. Therefore, they will be discussed in this article.

For information! Lithium-ion (Li-Ion) AA and AAA batteries are no longer produced at all.

AAA battery specifications

AAA batteries are characterized by:

• Operating voltage: 1.2 V.
• Capacity: from 550 to 1100 mAh.
• Form factor - AAA (HR03).
• Overall dimensions: length - 44 mm, diameter - 10 mm.
• Weight: 12-15 grams.
• Quantity guaranteed by the manufacturer full cycles charge/discharge: from 500 to 3000.
• Uninterrupted service life: from 3 to 10 years.
• Self-discharge level.

Application area

Rechargeable batteries are used in the most various devices:

• digital cameras and flashes;
• video cameras;
• voice recorders;
• portable radios and multimedia music centers;
• wireless game console controllers;
• hair trimmers;
• radiotelephones;
• wireless mice, keyboards and headphones;
• portable CD and MP3 players;
• children's electromechanical toys (including radio-controlled ones);
• miniature flashlights (incandescent or LED);
• electric shavers, epilators and toothbrushes.

The choice of AAA battery capacity directly depends on the energy consumption of a particular device.

Advantages and disadvantages

The undoubted advantages of nickel-metal hydride batteries (compared to disposable batteries and rechargeable products based on Li-Pol or Ni-Cd) are:

• Saving money (a set purchased once will last long years).
• The energy intensity of modern AAA batteries often exceeds that of standard batteries.
• Modern rechargeable Ni-MH products (unlike batteries) almost do not reduce the amount of energy delivered, even at high discharge currents.
• These products (compared to Ni-Cd) almost completely lack the so-called memory effect, so you can charge them without waiting for a complete discharge. At the same time, there is no deterioration in performance indicators.
• Complete environmental safety of materials used in production. This allows you to operate them without causing absolutely any harm. human health, and also greatly simplifies the process of subsequent disposal.
• Big choice products.

The main disadvantage of such products is that manufacturers do not recommend their use with sufficient low temperatures. Only some models (usually with the Pro index) are designed for operation at minus 20 degrees.

Leading manufacturers

The leading and most popular manufacturers of nickel-metal hydride batteries today are:

• Japanese Panasonic, Sanyo, Sony and Maha;
• American Duracell and Energizer;
• German Ansmann and Varta;
• Dutch Philips;
• Hong Kong GP;
• Russian "Cosmos", Robiton and "Zubr".

All of them have won the trust of consumers and have a good price/quality ratio.

Popular models from Panasonic

The well-known Japanese manufacturer Panasonic, which was the first to start producing nickel-metal hydride batteries with low self-discharge current, remains the constant leader in the ratings of AA and AAA batteries.

For use in devices with the form factor of HR03 (AAA) batteries, the company offers three types of “pinky” batteries.

The “younger” model Eneloop Lite today costs 210-220 rubles. Possessing a minimal (compared to more expensive products from Panasonic) capacity (550 mAh), the device allows for the maximum number of recharge cycles to date (up to 3000).

The price of a Panasonic Eneloop product with a capacity of 750 mAh is 260-270 rubles. The number of complete charge/discharge cycles guaranteed by the manufacturer is also very high - 2100.

On a note! The Panasonic AAA batteries described above retain 70 percent charge even after three years of storage.

The “older” Eneloop Pro model, which allows 500 full recharge cycles, today has a fairly large capacity for this type of battery (950 mAh) and costs 300-320 rubles. Distinctive feature This product is capable of being used in ambient temperature down to minus 20 degrees. After a year of storage, such a battery will lose only 15 percent of its original charge.

For information! By reading the operating instructions for a particular “device”, you can determine which AAA batteries are best suited for it.

An important advantage of Panasonic Eneloop batteries is that they are sold already charged and ready for immediate use (Ready To Use).

Product line from GP

AAA batteries (according to reviews from numerous customers) from GP are very popular due to their very balanced price/quality ratio. The Hong Kong manufacturer offers the user 6 models of products of the HR03 form factor with a capacity of 650 to 1000 mAh and costing from 85 to 150 rubles, respectively. The number of recharge cycles for all products is the same and is about 1000.

Like all leading manufacturers, GP has begun producing batteries with low self-discharge current. The GP AAA ReCyko+ model with a capacity of 850 mAh costs about 140 rubles. The Always Ready marking on the packaging indicates that the device is already charged and is intended for immediate use (without pre-charging).

Popular models from Energizer and Duracell

Both American manufacturers have been known to Russian consumers for quite some time. In their reviews, they give preference to the two most popular models of AAA batteries: Duracell Duralock (about 200 rubles) and Energizer Extreme (260 rubles). Their technical indicators are the same: capacity 800 mAh, number of recharge cycles - 1000. Both are sold in a charged state, which indicates their low self-discharge current. And although Duracell guarantees 5 years of uninterrupted operation for its product, most likely, under the same operating conditions, Energizer will last no less. Which AAA batteries are better can only be finally determined by one’s own experience of using them, and with the same energy consumer. Otherwise, the comparison will be very incorrect.

The most popular AAA batteries from German manufacturers

Among the “Germans,” the most famous and trusted manufacturers are Varta and Ansmann. Among owners of portable equipment with high energy consumption (such as flash units), AAA batteries from both companies with the Professional index are very popular. The cost of both models with a capacity of 1000 mAh (Varta Professional AAA and Ansmann Professional AAA) is approximately the same and amounts to 170-180 rubles. The only difference: Varta guarantees 1500 recharge cycles, and Ansmann - only 1000. Although, in our deep conviction, this is unlikely to radically affect the life expectancy of the product. During so-called idle time (that is, not using the battery for its intended purpose), both devices retain up to 85% of the original charge for a year.

Products from Russian manufacturers

Naturally, they also produce the popular type of AAA batteries. domestic producers. Among popular models, users note “Cosmos KOCR03” and “3ubr Dynamic Pro AAA”. Both models have the maximum capacity for this form factor - 1100 mAh, and are intended for use in devices with high power consumption. The cost is approximately the same and is about 150 rubles. The number of recharge cycles is about 1000.

The Robiton AAA Micro battery (costing 90-100 rubles) has a slightly lower capacity (900 mAh). The manufacturer positions this product as the cheapest among analogues without a memory effect and with a low self-discharge current.

Charging device

As the best charger for AA and AAA batteries, battery manufacturers naturally recommend devices of their own brand. That is, everything is simple, for example, bought a Panasonic Eneloop kit, buy a Panasonic Basic Charger BQ-CC51E for 1200-1300 rubles. Such a device will allow you to simultaneously charge 2 or 4 products. Approximate charging time is 8-10 hours (although this will largely depend on how low the batteries were).

For comparison: the universal (AA or AAA) Robiton Smart S100, also designed for simultaneous charging of 2 or 4 batteries, costs 900-950 rubles. The built-in processor monitors voltage changes and other electrical parameters and automatically turns off the device at the end of the charging process. The charging time, depending on the battery capacity, varies from 1.5 to 6 hours. The delivery set includes a network adapter and a power supply for connecting to a car's cigarette lighter (this greatly expands the functionality of the product).

Which of the above-described devices is average price category from enough famous manufacturers will better charging for AA and AAA batteries. It would seem that everything is simple: Robiton is cheaper and charges faster, Panasonic is more expensive and slower. However, electronics gurus clearly state that the higher the charging speed (and therefore its current), the shorter the battery life and vice versa. Currently, the cost of nickel-metal hydride batteries is not that high, so some users will not want to pursue them maximum term operation (5-10 years) in order to save your own time.

The most advanced can purchase a high-tech microprocessor with the ability to manually set modes and monitor process stages (voltage, current and capacitance level) on a multifunctional LCD screen. A popular device with such capabilities, Robiton Master Charger Pro LCD, currently costs about 3,400 rubles.

For information! Almost all modern chargers are equipped with a protection device against so-called polarity reversal. If you accidentally insert the battery incorrectly (that is, mix up “+” and “-”), this will not lead to failure of either the charger itself or the battery.

What to look for when choosing

When choosing batteries, you should pay attention to several main aspects:

• First of all, this is capacity. The larger it is, the longer your device will naturally work before the next recharge. However, the process of restoring the functionality of high-capacity products will take longer.
• If you use the device (with batteries installed in it) quite often, then you can safely purchase standard batteries. But if you turn on the device from time to time, then buy products with a low self-discharge current. Then, when you take the flash off the shelf six months later, you can be completely confident in its performance. Conventional batteries will be discharged to zero within this period.
• The number of recharge cycles is of concern mainly to very zealous owners. Even with the minimum value of this indicator (500) and very intensive use (recharging every 2 days), the most budget batteries from GP will last for at least a year and a half.

Important! You cannot save too much on the charger, as this leads to a decrease in battery life. It is best to purchase products with the function automatic shutdown from trusted manufacturers.

The final conclusion about which AAA batteries are best for your CD player or your beloved child’s radio-controlled car can be made by carefully reading the instruction manual (which often indicates the recommended capacity) and consulting an experienced sales consultant in a specialized store.

Batteries with salt electrolyte.
Salt electrolyte batteries, also known as zinc-carbon batteries, are the cheapest chemical power sources in existence. They are not designed for heavy loads: in a flashlight they will last about fifteen minutes, but in a camera they may not be enough for even one frame. At negative temperatures their capacity tends to 0. The purpose of salt batteries is remote controls, watches, electronic thermometers (devices whose energy consumption falls within tens of milliamps).
Alkaline batteries
The next type of battery is alkaline or manganese batteries. Many people call them “alkaline” - this is a literal translation from English “alkaline”, that is, “alkali”. The negative pole of an alkaline battery consists of zinc powder - compared to the zinc body of salt cells, the use of powder allows you to increase the rate of chemical reactions, and therefore the current supplied by the battery. The positive pole is made of manganese dioxide. The main difference from salt batteries is the type of electrolyte: in alkaline batteries, potassium hydroxide is used as it.
Alkaline batteries are well suited for devices with power consumption from tens to several hundred milliamps - with a capacity of about 2...3 Ah they provide quite acceptable operating time. They also have a significant disadvantage: high internal resistance. If you load a battery with a high current, its voltage will drop significantly, and a significant part of the energy will be spent on heating the battery itself - as a result, the effective capacity of alkaline batteries is highly dependent on the load. If, when discharging with a current of 0.025 A, we manage to get 3 A*h from the battery, then at a current of 0.25 A, the actual capacity will drop to 2 A*h, and with a current of 1 A, below 1 A*h.
However, an alkaline battery can work under heavy load for some time, it’s just that the time is short. If a digital camera may not even turn on with salt batteries, then one set of alkaline batteries may be enough for half an hour of operation.

Lithium batteries
The last widely used type of battery is lithium. They are typically rated at multiples of 3V, so most types of lithium batteries are not interchangeable with 1.5V salt and alkaline batteries. Such batteries are widely used in watches and photographic equipment. The advantage of lithium batteries is that they are less internal resistance Compared to alkaline ones: their capacity depends little on the load current. At low current, both alkaline and lithium batteries have the same capacity of 3 A*h, but if you put them in a digital camera that consumes 2000 mA, the lithium ones will last several times longer.
The disadvantage of lithium batteries is their high cost.
Nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) batteries
Ni-Cd battery is like a strong and silent worker. Nickel-cadmium batteries are reliable and durable (they can be stored for up to five years, and charged at correct use- up to 2000 times), work well and charge at low temperatures (at -20 C, their capacity is 75% of the nominal) and can easily withstand high discharge currents, can be charged with both low and high currents.
There are also plenty of disadvantages. Firstly, the relatively low energy density (that is, the ratio of the cell’s capacity to its volume), secondly, the average self-discharge current (after several months of storage, the battery will need to be recharged before use), thirdly, the use of poisonous cadmium in the design, and , fourthly, the memory effect - if the battery was discharged only by 25%, then the next charge will restore its capacity not to 100%, but less. To combat the memory effect, it is recommended to completely discharge the battery before charging - this destroys the crystals that form and restores the battery capacity. Among the available types of batteries, nickel-cadmium batteries are the most susceptible to memory effect. However, in some cases the use nickel-cadmium batteries justified even now - due to low cost, durability and the ability to charge at low temperatures without negative consequences for the battery.

Nickel metal hydride (Ni-MH) batteries
Ni-Mh do not contain heavy metals, which means they are less hazardous to the environment and do not require special processing during disposal. With the same dimensions, Ni-MH batteries have 1.3-1.5 times large capacity- for the most common AA batteries it reaches 3000 mAh, they suffer little from the memory effect. Unfortunately, Ni-MH batteries also have their drawbacks. Firstly, they have a higher self-discharge current compared to Ni-Cd (does not apply to modern “low self-discharge” LSDs, batteries with low self-discharge current), and secondly, a drop in battery capacity occurs after 200-300 cycles ( especially after deep discharges, below 0.75V per cell), thirdly, too high discharge currents and charging at low temperatures significantly shorten the life of the battery. Thus, manufacturers recommend a load current of 0.2C to 0.5C (from one fifth to half of the rated capacity, this does not apply to special power batteries), fourthly, at low temperatures their capacity is no more than 70% of the rated capacity. On this moment Ni-MH batteries are among the most common. When using Ni-MH batteries, you should not always strive for high capacity. The more capacious the battery, the higher (other things being equal) its self-discharge current.
Lithium-ion (Li-ion), Lithium-polymer (Li-pol) batteries
The specific characteristics of Li-ion batteries are at least two to three times higher than those of Ni-Mh batteries and perform well when operating at high currents (small-sized batteries are operational at discharge currents of up to 3 C, powerful traction power lithium-manganese LiMn2O4 and lithium-cobalt-manganese Li(NiCoMn)O2 up to 30 C. Lithium- ion batteries have a fairly low self-discharge (2-5% per month). To ensure safety and longevity, each battery pack must be equipped with an electrical control circuit to limit the peak voltage of each cell during charging (max 4.2 V) and prevent cell voltage from dropping below permissible level(min 2.5 V). In addition, the maximum charge and discharge current must be limited and the cell temperature must be monitored. The charging time for Li-ion batteries is approximately 3 hours and the battery remains cool during charging. Li-ion (Li-polymer) batteries are initially charged DC until the battery voltage reaches 4.2 V, and then at a constant voltage until the current decreases to a value equal to 0.05 C. After this, the charge runs out completely.
The most common standard size (form factor, “0” at the end means that the battery is cylindrical), today, 14500 (D=14mm, L=50mm, analogous to AA) and 18650 (D=18mm, L=65mm, protected up to 70mm). Unfortunately, depending on the manufacturer, the sizes may vary slightly. Protected Li-ion batteries contain a protection board (they have the word “protected” in the name). The Li-ion battery protection circuit uses a field-effect transistor switch, which opens when the voltage reaches 4.25 V, thereby interrupting the charging process. When the battery heats up to 100 °C, the thermal fuse disconnects the load circuit, providing its thermal protection. The deep discharge protection circuit, which monitors battery voltage, will interrupt the load circuit if the voltage drops below 2.75 V per cell.
The protection in the 18650 battery is implemented on a small board located at the bottom of the battery, on the cathode. When this board fails for one reason or another, it is simply carefully removed, converting the battery into an unprotected one. But using batteries without protection is dangerous. It is unacceptable to overcharge - it will explode due to excessive oxygen release and pressure build-up. Over-discharging is also dangerous - there is a high risk of damaging the battery. Further use of such a battery is possible only in “smart” devices that can control battery discharge.
Li-pol battery is structurally similar to Li-ion, but has a gel electrolyte. As a result, it becomes possible to simplify the design, since any leakage of the gel-like electrolyte is impossible.
Lithium ferrophosphate (LiFePO4)
These are promising batteries for use in electric vehicles. Not afraid of frost; not fire hazardous; deliver currents up to 100 C; can be charged with high current in 15 minutes; have a large number of charge-discharge cycles (2000-8000 full cycles); They lose little capacity during storage.
Disadvantages compared to Li-ion: they are more expensive and have lower capacity; are not compatible with Li-ion cells due to a different voltage range - 2-3.65 V and require other chargers (today there are already universal chargers working with both Li-ion and LiFePO4).

Batteries size 10440 / AAA. Purchased six months ago, still in use, 20 charge-discharge cycles from 100% to 50%. Short review

These batteries were purchased to replace the little finger NiMh batteries in the rear marker light on a bicycle.
I purchased a rear light for a bicycle with 2*AAA power supply, quite bright, and not bad in design, back in 2015. However, during operation, one trouble was discovered - when the batteries were slightly discharged, the flashlight froze and shone only half-heartedly, flickering at the same time. It was impossible to use it for its intended purpose, and I shelved this flashlight.

In the summer of 2017, I came across this lantern again and decided to figure out what the reason was. It turned out that there was a micro-device installed inside that operated at a minimum of 3.3 V (I don’t remember the markings, but now the flashlight body is sealed). Of course, this device could not operate correctly on AAA elements.

The flashlight worked fine with lithium elements, and I decided to remake it by installing a protection board inside the case and re-soldering the contact springs for parallel connection two AAA 3.7V elements, as well as changing the value of the ballast resistors.

Characteristics from the product page

Product description
2 pcs Li-Ion ICR Li-ion Battery 10440 Battery 330mAh 3.7V for digital camera flashes of light new

Peculiarity:
From temperature and from current protection
Defence from short circuit and environment
Please note the battery is waterproof, moisture, drop, etc
Lithium batteries without memory, can always be used at any time charging
Do not use the battery for a long time, should be fully charged to preserve

Specification:
Type: icr10440
Rated capacity: 320 mAh
Rated voltage: 3.7V
Size: diameter 10mm x height 440mm
Color: blue Size chart
Net weight: 0.009 kg

Equipment:
2pcs x 10440 rechargeable batteries

What did the Chinese send?

General view of batteries. The marking is 330 mAh, while the product description says 320 mAh. Dimensions of the battery are 9.5*42mm and the positive contact is another 1.5mm:

In a company with a 6*18650 assembly and AAA NiMh GP 650 mAh:

Photo of the resulting design. The protection board is visible:

Capacitance testing was carried out using a ZB2L3 board and two complete 7.5 Ohm ceramic load resistors connected in series. At the beginning of the measurement, the voltage was 4.2V, the discharge occurred up to 3.0V
The current was approximately 0.25 A. The elements were connected in parallel.

Additional Information

Before measurement, the batteries were charged to 100% in the LiitoKala Lii-202 charger. The batteries fit into this charge normally in terms of dimensions, the contact is good. The charging itself is connected to a 5 V power supply with a current limit of 500 mA ( USB port with limitation), as a result, each battery is charged with a current of no more than 0.25A. This is not very correct, but there is no other charging option yet.

Test bench :)

And the results of measuring two batteries in parallel:

531 mAh/2=265.5mAh:)
UPD when re-measuring one battery with a lower current drained 0.280

My opinion after all these experiments is that the game is not worth the candle.
Now you can buy dimensions with built-in microUSB charging and a lithium battery for little money.
I could also buy a lithium battery rectangular shape with built-in protection board, comparable capacity for less money. In principle, there is a place to install it in the lantern; the main thing is to choose the appropriate dimensions.

In the future, I will try to convert my old Petzl Tikka XP 2 flashlight to lithium. I really like this flashlight, especially the presence of a light-scattering curtain and convenient controls.

Thank you for your attention