Why don't they make 1.5V rechargeable batteries?

Question

I know that 1.2V rechargeable batteries can replace 1.5V alkaline batteries in most applications, but they don't work in some electronics, like radios and remote controls. So, why don't they boost the voltage to 1.5V? Thanks.

This may be a dumb question, but I'm just curious.

Answer 1

The newer lithium ion batteries have more power and last longer than lower power nicads so you can get 1.5v rechargeable. there are also a rechargeable alkaline batteries at 1.5 v. There are nickel metal hydride that are longer lasting than nicads

Answer 2

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The link below shows a battery backup circuit that gives a good idea of the basics for a 12V lead acid battery. This circuit does not provide a well regulated output. When there is voltage from the supply it charges the battery through R1 which limits the charge current. The diodes steer the current in the correct paths when there is power or only battery. They are essential. The voltage drop across a diode is like 0.7V, but can be up to 1 volt or more in some situations. These diodes are all rated for the currents involved.This diode voltage is reasonably constant. With a 12V battery, the maximum charge voltage may be 14V at the battery terminals, and an additional 0.7V is dropped across any diode so the supply must be at least 15V to fully charge the battery. The resistor is determined as: R = V/I where I is the maximum charge current, usually 1/10 of the battery capacity in Ah. V is the voltage across the resistor, which is Vsupply - Vdiode - Vbatty. The Vbatty in this case is for a flat battery, so 10-11V. The power in watts is V * I, using the same values, but note that at the rated power, resistors get very hot. A 12V tail lamp rated at 1A may also suit a 100Ah battery. If the battery is charged at 1/10 of the capacity it will overcharge, so an automatic cut off is needed when it reaches the correct voltage of 14V maximum. The second link shows one way to do this (different battery). A compromise to keep it simple is a resistor that gives 1/100 charge current. This is called a trickle charge, so the battery takes a long time to charge from empty (140 hours) but will not overcharge. This works well if the battery is rarely discharged more than a few percent. It might seem a good idea to add a regulator to the 12V output circuit. This output voltage is the input for the regulator. It will be between 10V with a flat battery and perhaps 15V on the mains supply. A 3 terminal regulator normally needs the input to be at least 2.5V more than its regulated output, so the regulator output would be 8V or less depending on the regulator dropout voltage. The regulator also provides protection for the diodes by limiting current. The diodes could be easily damaged by a short circuit or even charging a large capacitor. In some cases a 12V filament lamp in series with the load will limit the current (loads much less than the lamp current). I consider the regulator important. There also needs to be fuses with the battery and elsewhere, as in the article. As you can see it takes quite a lot of extra voltage at the supply to get to the well regulated output that will work till the battery is fully discharged.

Answer 3

No matter how you rationalize it, 1.2v batteries don't work as well in the practical applications that one would normally use. The reason may be more
close to the fact that battery manufacturers would prefer to sell millions of replacements rather than a battery that can be recharged 100 times on a device that may last a lifetime.

james

Answer 4

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RE:
Why don't they make 1.5V rechargeable batteries?
I know that 1.2V rechargeable batteries can replace 1.5V alkaline batteries in most applications, but they don't work in some electronics, like radios and remote controls. So, why don't they boost the voltage to 1.5V? Thanks.

This may be a dumb question, but I'm just curious.

Answer 5

The voltage is based upon the chemistry of the battery. The base unit of a battery is called a cell. A single cell will have what is called a nominal voltage based upon what chemicals are used to make up the battery. For example, a standard car battery has 6-cells that each has a nominal voltage of 2-volts per cells (6 cells X 2-Volt = a 12-volt car battery). The “chemistry” of a car battery, in general terms, is lead plates immersed in acid. All lead-acid batteries will be comprised of 2-volt cells. For alkaline, the chemistry is generally a magnesium dioxide mix, which has a nominal voltage will be 1.5V per cell. Rechargeable chemistry types like Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) and Nickel Cadmium (NiCd) have a nominal voltage of 1.2V per cell (even though some people list it as 1.25). The chemical reactions inside the cell will determine the output voltage. Unfortunately, you can’t get more out of the chemicals than to boost the voltage.

Answer 6

Did not 1.5 V rechargeable batteries, because of the battery material, however, now there are already 1.5 V rechargeable batteries, interior is polymer lithium ion batteries, through the voltage change technology, make the lithium battery for output voltage of 3.7 V to 1.5 V, have a need to know can contact me

Answer 7

On a disposable battery the voltage drops over time so 1.5v isn't 1.5v. Rechargeable batteries' voltage doesn't drop in the same way.

I must admit I have never found a device which works with disposable batteries but doesn't work with the equivalent rechargeable batteries.

Answer 8

Maybe it's something to do with the nature of the materials used to create the voltage. It could be that to obtain the AA size, that it's impractical. Just a guess.

We have A, AA, AAA, C and D batteries. Ever wonder what happened to the B series?

Answer 9

It's a difference in technology issue. But, generally speaking, NiMH batteries are considered an acceptable replacement for Alkaline batteries.

Answer 10

What is the battery AH rate ? Without knowing it cannot do a correct calculation. To charge 12 battery non stop without damage it by over charging, use trickle charge method. Charging current is about 3% AH rate.