30-second summary
Secondary Battery
Secondary batteries, also known as secondary cells, or rechargeable batteries, are batteries that can be recharged by driving electric current in the opposite direction of the discharge current.
Primary cells have better energy storage capacity, but secondary cells have better power output capabilities compared to primary cells and are used for high-power applications. Rechargeable batteries are often more expensive, but in high-drain applications, they offer greater value as they can be reused. In low-drain applications, the service life is more important, and the self-discharge characteristics of a rechargeable battery mean that they are less suitable for use as the primary energy source.
Types of Secondary Batteries
Advantages and Disadvantages of Secondary Batteries
Advantages:
The main advantage of secondary cells is that they may be recharged after discharge. Therefore, rechargeable batteries are more environmentally friendly than primary batteries. Not only can they be used repeatedly, but they generate less waste over the long term. This is particularly true in the case of power-intensive devices which cunsume batteries at an increased rate. Another very important advantage is a high C-rate. Secondary cells have better power output capabilities compared to primary cells and are used for high-power applications.
Disadvantages:
Battery price is one of the challenging factors in choosing the right rechargeable battery for your device or applications. It greatly affects the decision of the buyer. Rechargeable batteries have higher initial costs than their primary counterparts. Another important disadvantage is their self-discharge. In low-drain applications, the service life is more important, and the self-discharge characteristics of a rechargeable battery mean that they are less suitable for use as the primary energy source.
Other Types of Batteries
The following list summarizes notable electric battery types composed of one or more electrochemical cells. Four lists are provided in the table. The first list is a battery classification by size and format. Then, the primary (non-rechargeable) and secondary (rechargeable) cell lists are lists of battery chemistry. The third list is a list of battery applications. The final list is a list of different battery voltages.
Sizes
- AA battery
- AAA battery
- AAAA battery
- C battery
- D battery
- cr1220 battery
- cr1620 battery
- cr1632 battery
- cr1616 battery
- cr2016 battery
- cr2032 battery
- cr2025 battery
- cr2430 battery
- cr2450 battery
- cr123 battery
- cr2 battery
- cr132a battery
- lr1130 battery
- lr41 battery
- lr44 battery
- A23 battery
- a13 battery
- 18650 battery
- 21700 battery
