9v Rechargeable Batteries

A standard 9v rechargeable battery is square and measures roughly 48 millimetres × 25 millimetres × 15 millimetres (1.9 inches ×1 inches × 0.6 inches). Both anode and cathode are placed in the same end of the battery, the small end. The male clasp is positive and the female clasp negative. The 9v rechargeable battery is also known as PP3 battery, and is sometimes casually referred to as “radio battery”. The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and the American National Standards Institute/ National Educational Debate Association have both developed their own standard for the 9v rechargeable battery.

The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) calls the alkaline 9v rechargeable battery “6LR61”, the carbon-zinc based 9v rechargeable battery “6F22” and the nickel-cadmium 9v rechargeable battery “6KR61”. The American National Standards Institute/ National Educational Debate Association use another system and call the alkaline 9v rechargeable battery “1604A”. The carbon-zinc based 9v rechargeable battery is called “1604D” and the nickel-cadmium 9v rechargeable battery is called “11604”. ANSI/NEDA has also developed a standard for the nickel metal hydride 9v rechargeable battery and the lithium based 9v rechargeable battery and calls them “7.2H5” and “1604LC” respectively.

The milliampere-hour (mA·h) of the 9v rechargeable battery depend on the chemistry inside the battery. The ampere-hour is a unit used to measure electric charge and will indicate how long your 9v rechargeable battery will work before its need to be recharged again. The common alkaline 9v rechargeable battery has 565 mA·h. This can be compared to the 120 mA·h of the nickel-cadmium 9v rechargeable battery and the 1200 mA·h found in certain lithium based 9v rechargeable batteries. Between these extremes we find the carbon-zinc 9v rechargeable battery with a mA·h of 400 and the nickel metal hydride 9v rechargeable battery that features 175 mA·h.

You will find the 9v rechargeable battery in a wide range of different electrical appliances, including such important devices as smoke detectors and alarm units. According to the American Energizer company (Energizer Holdings), they were the first to provide consumers with 9v batteries and this happened as early as 1956. The first 9v batteries were used in transistorised radio receivers, and the 9v rechargeable battery is still often referred to as “transistor battery”.

You can test a 9v rechargeable battery by simultaneously pressing the anode and the cathode against your wet tongue. If there is any useful charge left in your 9v rechargeable battery, you will feel a mild sting in your mouth because current will travel via your tongue. You should avoid performing this type of battery test in front of children, since they might get the impression that batteries are something that is safe and fun to put in your mouth.

Also keep in mind that some people are more sensitive to current than others and might perceive even a mild sting from a 9v rechargeable battery as highly unpleasant.

The 9v rechargeable battery is also famous for being able to start fires. If you suddenly realise that you have no matches, but do have a 9v rechargeable battery and some steel wool, you can start a fire by scratching the steel wool against the contacts of your 9v rechargeable battery. Small sparks will form and can be used to light flammable materials.