The alphabetical system originates from the physical size, not the chemistry (alkaline). One of the first portable power cells was termed an “A” cell. Subsequent cells that were introduced were larger (C, D) or smaller (AA, AAA, AAAA) and were termed as variations off of the “A” cell. Alkaline was not formally introduced to consumers until the 1960’s and only became the dominant chemistry for the standard sizes in the late 1970’s, long after the physical sizes were established in other chemistries like carbon zinc (general purpose) or zinc chloride (heavy duty).
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Does AAA, AA, C or D define something else than size of batteries?
The alphabetical system originates from the physical size, not the chemistry (alkaline). One of the first portable power cells was termed an “A” cell. Subsequent cells that were introduced were larger (C, D) or smaller (AA, AAA, AAAA) and were termed as variations off of the “A” cell. Alkaline was not formally introduced to consumers until the 1960’s and only became the dominant chemistry for the standard sizes in the late 1970’s, long after the physical sizes were established in other chemistries like carbon zinc (general purpose) or zinc chloride (heavy duty).
