Batteries were first discovered in the early 19th century, but they are still very relevant today. Because from days of radio to the era of smartphones, all electronic devices rely on batteries. There are different types of batteries available, but the most famous ones are the AA battery and AAA battery.
In this article, we spread some light on the AA vs AAA batteries so you get to know the difference between them.
AA vs AAA Battery
History
In the old days when the electric equipment used to be big and heavy, the size of batteries required to charge them up was also big. These batteries were named as A, B, C, and D. Out of which the battery ‘A’ was the smallest and the battery ‘C’ and ‘D’ were the largest.
But with time, the electrical devices keep getting smaller, and that’s where the requirement of smaller batteries was discovered. Since the smallest battery at those time were called ‘A’ they had to name the new smaller batteries with AA, AAA, and AAAA.
Now, since you know how AA and AAA batteries got their names, let’s discuss them in detail.
Dimensions
In terms of dimension or size, the AA batteries are bigger than the AAA batteries. The AA batteries are 49.2–50.5 mm in length and weigh around 23 g. On the other hand, the AAA batteries are 13.5–14.5 mm long and weigh around 15 g. The size of the battery is an important factor as it decides how much electrochemical charge a battery can carry.
Output
The AA and AAA batteries give out the same amount of voltage which is 1.5 volts. But, since the AA batteries are bigger in size they can store more charge than AAA batteries. To be precise the AA batteries have a charge capacity of 2400mAh, on the other hand, AAA batteries can store charge of up to 1000mAh capacity.
Cost
Another difference between AA and AAA battery is cost. Although the AA batteries are bigger in size, they are still less expensive than AAA batteries. And this is simply because of the supply and demand. As per reports, out of 10 cells sold in the market 9 are AA and the rest is AAA.
The cost of batteries can also be determined by their rechargeability. Most of the Alkaline AA and AAA batteries are disposable, thus they cost less. On the other hand, NiMH AA and AAA batteries are rechargeables, so they cost more than Alkaline batteries. If you buy a rechargeable battery, it will be budget-efficient in the long run.
Usage
The AA batteries can store more charge and hence are used in more power-hungry devices like toys, wall clocks, and other portable electronics. You can either use a rechargeable AA battery on these devices or an energizer battery that provides long-lasting power.
While, the AAA batteries are used in small electronic devices like the TV remote control, digital cameras, and MP3 players. These devices require low power for their operations and hence work perfectly with AAA batteries. A lot of smaller devices that use AAA batteries sit ideally most of the time. So, you can get non-rechargeable batteries for them.
Working
The AA and AAA batteries like any other batteries out there are electrochemical devices that convert chemical energy into electrical energy. So, irrespective of the size, the amount of charge a battery can store, and usage, all the batteries work on the same principle.
While using, the primary batteries, i.e the disposable batteries are discharged irreversibly. On the other hand, NiMh (AA or AAA ) or NiCd rechargeable batteries can use reverse current for restoring electrons.
FAQs
What is the Major difference between AA and AAA batteries?
AAA batteries are smaller in size and were invented after the AA batteries. The charge capacity of both batteries is also different as the AA batteries can store up to 2500 mAh and charge while the AAA battery carries up to 1200 mAh.
Can I use an AAA instead of an AA battery?
As the AA and AAA batteries differ in size, all the devices have fixed space for the battery type used in them. But if you are making an open circuit project, you can use them interchangeably.
Have A Look: Top 7 RC Car Batteries
Conclusion
Batteries have revolutionized consumer electronics by making electronic devices portable. Of all batteries out there, the AA and AAA batteries are the most popular ones. Both the batteries work on the same principle and give the same amount of output voltage. But as you have seen the AA vs AAA battery comparison, they are still quite different from each other in factors like usage, cost, and dimensions.
