Table of Contents

Batteries

Not to be confused with the legal term for hitting someone very hard.

Accumulators

In newspeak rechargeable battery or just battery, this device stores electrical energy in the form of a chemical potential difference.

Voltage by accu technology

Technology Vmax1 Vmin2 Amax (discharging) Amax (charging)
NiCd 1,28V 0,9V-1,1V 250mA-500mA
NiMH3 1,26V-1,45V 0,9V-1,1V 250mA-500mA
Lead acid 2,1V 1,4V-1,75V
Li-Mn 4,05V-4,1V 2,7V-3,0V 5A-10A 1A-1,5A
Li-Po 10A-15A 1A-1,5A

charging / discharging

Charging and discharging rate is defined as the C-Rate. Usually you want to charge at half the rate of the nominal capacity (0.5C or C/2).4

common sizes

Wikipedia: List of battery sizes

identifier type size usual technology used in
AA round cell NiMH
AAA round cell NiMH
10440 round cell Ø10mm x L44mm Li-Ion same size as AAA, but different voltage (3.7V vs 1.5V)
18650 round cell Li-Ion battery packs, laptop batteries, high-power flashlights, e-cigs

Lithium Ion cells

further reading

[1] maximum voltage cells like this can sustain without being damaged
[2] minimal voltage where the cell is usable, anything less might damage the cell
[3] Nickel metal hydride
[4] this means that if you want to charge a cell with 1000mAh, you should charge it for two hours at 500mA or less