Page 111 - Lindens Handbook of Batteries

4.8 PRINCIPLES OF OPERATION

When applicable, the terminal arrangement is specified in the standard within the same nomen-
clature designators used for shape and size. The designators thus determine all interchangeable
physical aspects of the cells and batteries in addition to the voltage.

4.6 ELECTRICAL PERFORMANCE

In terms of the requirement to provide fit and function in the end product, the actual appliance does
not require specific values of electrical performance. The correct battery voltage, needed to protect
the appliance from overvoltage, is assured by the battery designation. Batteries of the same voltage
but having differences in capacity can be used interchangeably, but will operate for different service
times. The minimum electrical performance of the battery is therefore cited and specified in the
standards either by application or by capacity testing.
1. Application tests. This is the preferred method of testing the performance specified for primary
batteries. Application tests are intended to simulate the actual use of a battery in a specific appli-
cation. Table 4.6a illustrates typical application tests.
2. Capacity (service output) tests. A capacity test is generally used to determine the quantity of
electric charge a battery can deliver under specified discharge conditions. This method is the one
that has been generally used for rechargeable batteries. It is also used for primary batteries when
an application test would be too complex to simulate realistically or too lengthy to be practical
for routine testing. Table 4.6b lists some examples of capacity tests.

TABLE 4.6a Example of Application Tests for R20 Type Batteries
Nomenclature R20P R20S LR20
Electrochemical Zinc-carbon Zinc-carbon Zinc/manganese
system (high power) (standard) dioxide
Nominal voltage 1.5 1.5 1.5
Daily End
Application Load, Ω period point Minimum average duration †
Portable lighting (1) 2.2 * 0.9 320 min 100 min 810 min
Tape recorders 3.9 1 h 0.9 11 h 4 h 11 h
Radios 10 4 h 0.9 32 h 18 h 81 h
Toys 2.2 1 h 0.8 5 h 2 h 15 h
Portable lighting (2) 1.5 ** 0.9 135 min 32 min 450 min
* 4 min beginning at hourly intervals for 8 h/day; ** 4 min/15 min, 8 h/day.
† For LR20: portable stereo test.

TABLE 4.6b Example of Capacity Tests
Nomenclature (Refer to Table 4.3b) SR54
Electrochemical system (Refer to Table 4.2c) S
Nominal voltage (Refer to Table 4.2c) 1.55
Application * Load, kΩ Daily period End point Minimum average duration
Capacity (rating) test 15 24 h 1.2 580 h
* Application for this battery is watches. As an application test could take up to 2 years to test, a capacity test is specified.