Here’s some basic information on different types of batteries in general. This is not intended to be technical but an introduction to different types of battery to those who may not be technically inclined.
To help understand basic concept of circuitry, imagine a highway. Along the path of this highway lies a drawbridge. This drawbridge is a switch. when the bridge is open, the flow of traffic is halted. The total number of our cars has not changed, but the flow of those cars has ceased. Voltage then is represented by the number of cars on our fictional highway. By definition, voltage is the potential for electricity to do work. The cars will represent electrons -- which are the workers of the circuit. When our drawbridge closes, this potential is released and the cars are able to flow to the other side of the drawbridge to their final destinations. The measure of voltage is the volt (V).
When our cars begin to flow to their destinations, the volume of cars in a given space at a given time and the speed at which they flow represents current. Current is the measure of the flow of electrons. Our cars must also have somewhere to go before they begin to flow. In a circuit, electrons must have a path to follow, a complete loop, before they are able to flow and do work. Current is measured in amperes, or amps for short (A). Again, the total number of cars on the highway represents our voltage, and the number of cars at one point along with the speed of those cars represents current in the circuit.
Current Capacity
Batteries are rated according to voltage and current capacity (ampere-hours). Each battery is composed of one or more cells. In our traffic analogy, these cells are representative of parking garages for our cards, or electrons. When the battery is hooked into a circuit, the cars have a path on which to travel. They then begin to flow and the circuit has current. When all of the cars have left the garage and run out of gas, the battery is dead and the current flow ceases. Current capacity is the approximate gas mileage of our cars. The voltage of a battery is determined by the chemical composition of the material within the cells. Just as diesel fuel and gasoline both have the capacity to do work within our cars, the different chemical compositions have capabilities of doing work similar to one another.
mA x hours = mAH (current capacity)
The current capacity measures how quickly a battery will discharge under certain circumstances. This figure is determined by multiplying the flow of the current from the battery into the circuit by the amount of time the battery is able to provide that current.
So, Time = mAH/mA
If you are given the current capacity of a battery (in mAH), dividing this number by the current requirement of the circuit will give you the time of the battery will last under a constant load.
Let’s take, for example, a 9.6 volt battery rated at 1500 mAH (milliampere-hours) at 250 milliamps. By dividing 1500 mAh by 250 mA, we find the battery will discharge in about six hours.
1500 mAh ÷ 250 mA = 6 hours
In contrast, the battery might be rated at 1250 mAh if used in a circuit requiring 500 mA. In this case, the battery would discharge in about 2.5 hours.
1250 mAh ÷ 500 mA = 2.5 hours
It is this concept that makes predicting the usable time of camcorder batteries difficult. Camcorders require a great deal of current, especially when using certain features, such as auto-focusing, fast forward, or rewind. Each of these features requires a different amount of current. This factor alone makes the usable time difficult to predict. However, other factors must be taken into consideration, such as temperature. Therefore, a 2000 mAh battery will not necessarily last twice as long as a 1000 mAh battery -- although it will typically be close.
Alkaline cells, regardless of their size, produce 1.5 volts. So, the parking garages may only hold a certain number of cars (remember, the TOTAL number of cars is voltage). Therefore, a “D” battery is composed of one alkaline cell. Conversely, a 9-volt battery is composed of six alkaline cells wire together in series. To explain this, we will deviate slightly from our traffic scene to a nearby railroad. Hooking batteries or cells in series is just like using multiple locomotives to pull cargo on a railroad -- the train is able to utilize the cumulative power of all of the engines to pull the railroad cars.
Voltage Discharge Curve
The voltage discharge curve is a vital tool to help you determine the appropriate type of battery to sell. This factor is determined by the chemical properties of the battery. Certain batteries exhibit what is known as a sloped curve. In this type of battery, the voltage gradually degrades as the battery gets older. Batteries exhibiting flat voltage curves maintain their voltage at a somewhat constant level until the end of their life, where the voltage suddenly drops off. In the graph at left, the top curve represents a flat discharge curve, the bottom curve represents a sloped discharge curve.
Alkaline Batteries
The most popular battery composition is alkaline. Alkaline batteries have a sloped discharge curve. Their voltage gradually drops off over the life of the battery until eventually, the battery is no longer usable. Although the discharge curve is sloped, it is still flatter than zinc-chloride and carbon batteries. Alkaline batteries can deliver up to 80% of their original capacity after being stored for four years. This makes alkaline batteries ideal for emergency devices such as flashlights, radios, and TVs.
Alkaline batteries are 8 to 10 times more powerful than the zinc-chloride or zinc-carbon batteries. They’re very good for use in high-current applications, such as motorized toys and portable TVs. Since they are able to emit large amounts of current for short periods of time without significant voltage loss, alkaline batteries are also ideal for photo flash units.
Watch this great video for a better understanding.
