This Product Selection Guide contains information to help select products in the Batteries Rechargeable (Secondary) category on DigiKey.com
Rechargeable (secondary) batteries are electrochemical storage cells that function on the basis of a reversible chemical reaction, allowing depleted cells to be replenished and reused numerous times before requiring disposal. Typically, secondary cells store less energy in a given space than comparable primary cells and exhibit higher levels of self-discharge, making them less stable in long-term storage. While generally more costly on a unit basis than primary cells, their potential for reuse makes them a more economical choice for many applications. While the term “battery” is most properly reserved for an assembly of multiple individual cells, its use in reference to a single cell is common.
SelectionCharacteristics
Battery Chemistry: Indicates the chemical system on which a cell or battery is based.
Battery Cell Size: Indicates cell or battery dimensions in terms of industry standard designators.
Voltage - Rated: The nominal voltage value supplied by the battery when it is fully charged.
Capacity: Describes energy storage capacity in terms of a product of output current and time duration, under manufacturer’s test conditions. Observed values will vary with application conditions.
Size/Dimension: The physical dimensions of the device, typically given in “diameter” by “height/length”.
Termination Style: The method used to electrically connect the battery to the rest of the circuit, such as Solder Tab for direct PCB connection or Button Top (Extending) for common commercial battery contact pads.
ProductExamples
| MFR PART # | LC-X1220P |
|---|---|
| DIGI-KEY PART # | P231-ND |
| MANUFACTURER | Panasonic - BSG |
| DESCRIPTION | 12 V Sealed Lead Acid (SLA, VRLA) Battery Rechargeable (Secondary) 20Ah |
| DATASHEET | Datasheet |
| MFR PART # | ML-1220/V1AN |
|---|---|
| DIGI-KEY PART # | P294-ND |
| MANUFACTURER | Panasonic - BSG |
| DESCRIPTION | Coin, 12.5mm 3 V Lithium Battery Rechargeable (Secondary) 17mAh |
| DATASHEET | Datasheet |
SchematicSymbol
Schematic symbol courtesy of Scheme-it. Please see their website for more information and symbols.
MediaLinks
Videos
How to Connect Batteries in Series and Parallel Configurations - Another Teaching Moment
Articles
Secondary Battery Technologies Offer Tradeoffs
Blogs
A Quick Primer on Battery Types
What is an Amp Hour?
TechForum
UL Certificate for Lithium Batteries