![]() ![]() Zinc-carbon “dry cells” are common primary batteries. NiMH and Li-ion cells have much lower internal resistance and do not experience the large capacity loss that primary batteries suffer when supporting higher current demands. And, while they cost more than primary batteries, NiMH batteries are among the least-expensive rechargeable chemistry, making them attractive in a variety of use cases.Ī performance advantage of rechargeable batteries such as NiMH and Li-ion is their ability to support higher power levels without damage. However, one of the things that has allowed nickel-metal-hydride (NiMH) rechargeable batteries to continue being produced is new NiMH battery designs with very low self-discharge rates that are comparable with many inexpensive primary cells. Primary cells are on the lower end of that range. Depending on the chemistry and construction, battery self-discharge rates range from a few percentage points per year to 15% per month. Self-discharge is the loss of charge on a battery that is not being used. Since they cannot be recharged, primary batteries are designed to have very low self-discharge rates. In this case, it would be much more costly to replace a primary battery to achieve the same time of operation that can be achieved with a rechargeable battery that can be reused 500 times. For example, the higher costs of rechargeable batteries plus the necessary charger to run a hand-held power tool can be spread over 500 or more recharging cycles, reducing the effective cost per cycle. In general, rechargeable batteries are more costly to purchase but more economical to use over time compared with primary batteries. The electrochemical reactions in secondary (rechargeable) batteries are reversible, and the chemical reactants can be restored (recharged) by running a charging current into the battery. Primary cells are made in a range of standard sizes to power small household appliances and consumer devices such as flashlights and portable radios. Therefore, the larger the size of the primary cell, the more electricity it can produce before it’s depleted. The electrochemical reactions in primary batteries are not reversible and consume chemicals to produce electricity. This FAQ starts with a general overview of the differences between primary and secondary batteries it will then look at how specific chemistries compare with relation to self-discharge rates, operating temperature capabilities, physical construction, estimation of remaining charge, and power/energy handling. The most obvious is that primary batteries are single-use devices while secondary batteries can be recharged and used many times, but that’s not the only difference. There are several differences between primary and secondary batteries.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |