1.5V vs 1.2V Battery: Uses, Types and Applications

A 1.5V battery is a small-sized battery that is part of different portable electronic devices. This battery, used for different devices, has reliable features and easy portability. In this post, we cover features, applications, and equivalents for a 1.5 V battery. So let’s get started with an introduction to a 1.5V battery.

Table of Contents

What is a 1.5v battery?

The 1.5V battery is small in size and has a nominal voltage of 1.5 volts. This battery is cylinder-shaped and part of different portable devices.
The features that help to use batteries for different applications are their reliable nature and high efficiency.
The 1.5V batteries that have NiMH chemistry and lithium-ion chemistry are rechargeable batteries. That is part of different electronic devices.
This battery comes with different chemistries such as lithium, zinc-carbon, and alkaline.
Alkaline 1.5V batteries are commonly used and provide a longer working life and good working performance.
The main uses for batteries are in toys and flashlights.

1.5 volt battery Dimensions

Battery Type	Diameter (mm/inches)	Height (mm/inches)
AA	14.5 mm (0.57″)	50.5 mm (1.99″)
D	34.2 mm (1.35″)	61.5 mm (2.42″)
LR44	11.6 mm (0.46″)	5.4 mm (0.21″)
AAA	10.5 mm (0.41″)	44.5 mm (1.78″)
AAAA	8.3 mm (0.33″)	42.5 mm (1.67″)
C	26.2 mm (1.03″)	50 mm (1.97″)

1.5V Battery Types

AA 1.5-volt battery

The AA 1.5 V battery is a common type and comes with a cylinder-like shape that has a voltage output of 1.5 volts. It is part of different electronic devices.
• The AA battery is cylinder-shaped, and its diameter is 14.5 mm and its length is 50.5 mm. Its other name is double battery. AA batteries normally come in two types of chemistries: alkaline and rechargeable.

Alkaline 1.5-volt AA batteries

Alkaline AA battery is a non-rechargeable disposable battery. It is used since it has a longer working life and good working performance.
Alkaline batteries come with high energy density and are good to use for devices where moderate power is needed.
The main uses for this battery are flashlights, portable audio players, and toys.

Rechargeable 1.5-volt AA batteries

Rechargeable AA batteries are used for different applications, and they have recharging features. Common types of rechargeable chemistry for AA batteries are NiMH and Lithium Ion.
NiMH rechargeable batteries are commonly used and come with preferable features to use.
It has a higher capacity than alkaline batteries and is part of high-drain devices, for example, game controllers and portable audio devices.
Li-Ion rechargeable AA batteries have high energy density and work longer in parts where longer runtime is needed.
Before using, make sure that battery leads are accurately connected to the compartment of the battery.

1.5-volt lithium battery

1.5 V lithium battery, part of different devices such as gaming devices, medical devices, etc.
The 1.5V lithium battery is a lithium-iron disulfide (LiFeS₂) battery. This battery chemistry comes with high energy density and has a longer working life and good working performance.
The common type of 1.5V lithium battery is the AA battery. Lithium batteries provide a good working life and work for many years without a power effect.
The lithium chemistry batteries come with high energy density and good power in compact dimensions.
This battery is lightweight and easy to carry for handheld devices.
Lithium batteries come with a low self-discharge rate and carry charge for a longer time when not in use than other batteries.
Lithium batteries are safe to use if accurately stored.

1.5-volt D battery

The 1.5V battery is defined as an alkaline D cell, and it is a common dry cell battery that is used for industries. Its common uses are flashlights, toys, and medical instruments.
The D battery is larger in size and cylinder-shaped. It provides longer one-time use since it has a higher energy capacity than small-type batteries.
The common D battery chemistry is alkaline, and it is also called alkaline D cells. The alkaline battery comes with a zinc anode and manganese dioxide cathode; alkaline electrolytes, normally potassium hydroxide, help to provide a chemical reaction for generating current.

Difference between 1.2V and 1.5V batteries

The main difference between the 1.2V battery and the 1.5V battery is the material used; the 1.2V battery comes with nickel metal hydride chemistry, and the 1.5V battery comes with lithium-ion or alkaline chemistry.
The 1.2V battery and 1.5V battery are not used as replacements since different volts and sizes affect the device’s damage.

Voltage Output:

The common difference is output volts; a 1.5V battery has higher starting volts than a 1.2V battery based on working performance for high-drain devices.

Chemistry

1.5V battery is alkaline or lithium chemistry, and 1.2V battery comes with NiMH or NiCd rechargeable chemistry.

Rechargeability:

The 1.5V battery is non-rechargeable, and the 1.2V battery is recharged many times.

Capacity

The 1.5V battery comes with a higher capacity than 1.2V and helps to power devices for a longer time before recharging or replacing.

Shelf Life

The alkaline battery 1.5V has a longer working life compared to the rechargeable 1.2V, and it loses charge with time when not used.

Feature	1.5V Batteries	1.2V Batteries
Voltage	1.5 volts	1.2 volts
Chemistry	Alkaline or lithium	NiMH or NiCd
Shelf Life	Longer (up to several years)	Shorter (depends on usage)
Self-Discharge Rate	Lower	Higher
Recharging features	Non-rechargeable	Rechargeable
Capacity	higher	lower

1.5V Batteries Working

The 1.5V battery works based on electrochemical reactions in battery cells. If a battery is connected to electronic devices, a chemical reaction exists between the anode and cathode terminals to produce electrical energy.
The main components of the 1.5V battery are.
The anode is made with zinc for alkaline batteries, and the anode performs oxidation at the time of discharge.
The cathode comes with manganese dioxide or lithium compounds, and on this component, reduction occurs.
Electrolyte helps to move ions between the anode and cathode and helps the occurrence of chemical reactions to produce current.

Lithium 1.5V batteries vs other battery types?

Feature	Lithium 1.5V Battery	Alkaline Battery	NiMH Battery	Zinc-Carbon Battery
Shelf Life	12years	5-10 years	3-5 years	~3 years
Weight	Low weight	Heavy	Heavy	Heavy
Rechargeable	Some types available	No	Yes	No
Recharge Cycles	Up to 1200	/	300-500	/
Voltage Output	1.5V	1.5V	1.2V	1.5V
Energy Density	High	Moderate	Moderate	Low
Operating Temperature Range	-40°C to +60°C	-20°C to +55°C	-20°C to +50°C	-10°C to +50°C

Difference between a 3.7V battery and a 1.5V battery

3.7V batteries:

The 3.7V battery is a lithium battery. It uses lithium compounds as raw materials, such as lithium iron phosphate and ternary lithium commonly used, that make the battery have high energy density and recharging features and a high cycle.

1.5v battery:

The 1.5V battery comes with lithium-ion, alkaline, and zinc-carbon battery chemistry and is part of a clock, remote controls, smoke alarms, etc.

Feature	3.7V Battery	1.5V Battery
Voltage	3.7V	1.5V
Rechargeability	Rechargeable	Non-rechargeable
Self-Discharge Rate	Low self-discharge	Moderate self-discharge
Energy Density	High energy density	Lower energy density
Cost	expensive	less expensive

What is the minimum voltage of a 1.5V battery?

Normally, the 1.5V battery is not charged, and the voltage slowly reduces to 1.2V, it causes battery damage or power outages. The rechargeable lithium battery can be charged to restore voltage and regular use.

Can 1.2V batteries be used for 1.5V?

Before replacing the 1.2V battery with the 1.5V, follow these points:

Voltage difference:

The primary battery comes with a nominal voltage of 1.5V for new conditions, and a rechargeable battery, such as a lithium-ion, NiMH, or NiCd battery, has a nominal voltage of 1.2V. This difference in volts affects battery’s working for different devices.

Compatibility:

Different devices have features to work for a certain voltage range. The devices that use a non-rechargeable 1.5V battery do not work well for a 1.2V rechargeable battery.
The 1.5V battery-operated devices come with built-in voltage regulators or are made for tolerating less voltage difference and help to work well for 1.2V rechargeable batteries.

How long does a 1.5V battery last?

The main factors that affect battery working life are uses, types, and devices where the current is used. The working life of a 1.5V lithium-ion battery is based on a life cycle, which is about 2000 cycles.
The accurate recharging of lithium-ion cells helps to use them for a longer time, about more than 5 years, according to chemistry.
The runtime of a 1.5V battery is based on the current used by the battery. Devices that draw high current use battery power quickly and reduce working life.

Is a 1.5V battery like a 9V or 12V battery?

The 1.5V battery is not the same as the 9V or 12V battery. Battery ratings define the nominal voltage of the battery and the average output of the battery. To get volts, we can connect six 1.5V batteries in a series combination and a 12V battery made with a series combination of eight 1.5V batteries.

Can we replace the 3.7V battery with 1.5V?

The 3.7V battery for the 1.5V battery is only suggested if the device comes with the same design features for handling high voltage. Since high voltage can affect devices.

Can AA be used for a 1.5 V battery?

AA batteries come in 1.2 to 3.7V based on chemistry; if your devices support a size and features for 1.5V, we can replace

FAQs

Are AA and AAA 1.5V batteries the same?

AA and AAA define battery physical dimensions; AA is a larger size compared to AAA batteries, and both come with the same 1.5 volts.

Can a rechargeable battery be used for a regular one?

Yes, we can use it, but make sure that the device supports rechargeable battery types since they come with lower voltage when not completely charged.

How to find out if the battery is dead?

Let’s suppose that if devices stop operation abruptly or show dimming lights or slow working. It is a sign that the battery is dead.

Can we mix different brands of batteries in a single device?

No, it is not good to use since easy types of batteries come with different volts and chemistry and cause leakage and affect battery or device performance.

What are the uses of 1.5V lithium batteries?

Lithium 1.5V battery is used for digital cameras, remote controls, medical devices, and different sensors.

How long do 1.5V lithium batteries last when opened?

The working life of a battery is based on uses and normally works longer compared to a Lakline battery since it has low self-discharge rates.

What is the basic difference between a 1.5V battery and a 1.2V battery?

The main difference is their voltage; 1.5V batteries have a higher starting voltage than 1.2V rechargeable batteries and have an affects on their use in different devices.

Can a 1.5V battery be used for a 1.2V battery?

Yes, we can replace the 1.5V battery with 1.2V battery, but it does not work well for high-drain devices since it has low output power.

Are all 1.2V batteries rechargeable?

No, but only NiMH and NiCD are made for different charging cycles.

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What is a 1.5v battery?

1.5 volt battery Dimensions