# Battery sizes: AAA, AA,... A? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 9, 2003, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battery-sizes-aaa-aa-a/187335 "2003-07-09T22:32:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Yossarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/9de0a6/32.png) [@Yossarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yossarian)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battery-sizes-aaa-aa-a/187335/1 "2003-07-09T22:32:53Z")
My wife asks–and I don’t want to look like a total dumbass by not knowing something, so I stealth off and log in here–why we don’t have “A” size batteries? Good question, I reply. We’ve got AAA and AA… then skip to C and D. So what happened to “A”? And for that matter: where are the “B” sized batteries? ---
**Author:** ![Sdog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aca169/32.png) [@Sdog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sdog)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battery-sizes-aaa-aa-a/187335/2 "2003-07-09T22:50:59Z")
I think at one time (in the early days of radio), when homes with electricity were rare, radios used A size batteries, there may have been other sizes as well that were phased out of use. by the way i have always thought that AAA bateries exist just to cost more that is they don’t last as long and cost more when it is very slightly physically smaller, it looks like things could be designed to have space for AA easily and they are much cheaper/more plentiful, but maybe thats just me. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battery-sizes-aaa-aa-a/187335/3 "2003-07-09T22:56:03Z")
And ‘b’ cells are inside the 6V lantern battery (you have to open it up to see them). They just became unpopular for other things. ---
**Author:** ![Lateralus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@Lateralus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lateralus)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battery-sizes-aaa-aa-a/187335/4 "2003-07-09T22:56:42Z")
[http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a4\_005b.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a4_005b.html) ---
**Author:** ![erislover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/71e660/32.png) [@erislover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erislover)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battery-sizes-aaa-aa-a/187335/5 "2003-07-09T22:57:13Z")
[The master speaks.](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a4_005b.html) ---
**Author:** ![UncleBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@UncleBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBill)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battery-sizes-aaa-aa-a/187335/6 "2003-07-09T22:57:33Z")
[B Cells](http://exn.ca/Stories/1998/06/16/51.asp) exist in Europe, and [A Cells](http://www.batteryholders.com/BH2-3AT.pdf) are used for memory protection devices. Looks like [this.](http://www.tsbvi.edu/Education/vmi/images/machine.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Yossarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/9de0a6/32.png) [@Yossarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yossarian)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battery-sizes-aaa-aa-a/187335/7 "2003-07-09T23:12:16Z")
Thanks, all! I am now going to pass on this information as though “I just remembered” it… …not that she’ll buy that, but, you know, it’s worth a shot. Again: Gracias! ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battery-sizes-aaa-aa-a/187335/8 "2003-07-09T23:19:06Z")
Can anyone tell me why those little lithium camera batteries are so damned expensive? - I bought a CR2 today for my Ixus and it cost me £7.25 - for a tiny little thing the size of a peanut. Is it that they are actually difficult/expensive to manufacture. oir is it just that the manufacturers realise they have the punters but the balls and can charge whatever they like? ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battery-sizes-aaa-aa-a/187335/9 "2003-07-09T23:43:21Z")
What about those square 9V batteries? What classification do they fall under? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battery-sizes-aaa-aa-a/187335/10 "2003-07-09T23:50:46Z")
9V batteries (PP3) are true batterries - most of the others are actually ‘cells’. If you open up a PP3, you’ll find six AAAA size 9yes it is a real size) cells inside, wired together in series. (I don’t recommend doing this) ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battery-sizes-aaa-aa-a/187335/11 "2003-07-09T23:51:42Z")
A little from column A and a little from column B Mangetout. Cells like that are a little more expensive but price can vary wildly depending on where you buy. I use CR123 batteries in a few items and I can pay $6 for them in a department or camera shop or $1.25 from a company that makes tactical flashlights that use them. Say, has anyone else seen AAAA (4A) batteries? A friend told me he’s seen them and I thought I saw them in best buy once but neglected to buy a pack for evidence. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battery-sizes-aaa-aa-a/187335/12 "2003-07-09T23:54:22Z")
Yes, you can buy them in packs of 2 at RadioShack, **Padeye**. $2.99/2 IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battery-sizes-aaa-aa-a/187335/13 "2003-07-09T23:55:02Z")
I have seen AAAA batts, I think their used for camerias. I didn’t know 9v uses them, it appears to be too small, and I assumed the cells in a 9v are rectangular which AAAA is not. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battery-sizes-aaa-aa-a/187335/14 "2003-07-09T23:56:34Z")
No, there really are 6 x 1.5 V AAAA cells in a 9 V battery. I’ve disassembled several of them, and they’re all made that way. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battery-sizes-aaa-aa-a/187335/15 "2003-07-10T00:02:27Z")
OK if your sure. It would seem that companies such as duracell and energizer would come up with a rectangular cell over the tubeler AAAA cell to increase energy density (and give longer run time) why do they stich with putting tubes into a rectangular case? ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battery-sizes-aaa-aa-a/187335/16 "2003-07-10T00:05:45Z")
Actually I just had to see for myself, just took out my leatherman and pealed open a duracell (it opened like a canned ham). And there are 6 AAAA cells (I assumed they would be stacked horozontal and hence not fit, but they are vertically stacked. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battery-sizes-aaa-aa-a/187335/17 "2003-07-10T00:08:11Z")
That’s not half as bad as the underhandedness of rechargeable NiCd maufacturers. _Consumer Reports_ did an investigation of D-sized cells and found that evey brand they tested, excpet RadiShack, was a C-size cell in a D-size package. The RS D-cell was a the only true D. Whodathunkit? ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battery-sizes-aaa-aa-a/187335/18 "2003-07-10T00:09:47Z")
IIRC the radioshack Hi-Cap D cell (High Capacity) was a true D, their standard D was a C (or even an AA). ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battery-sizes-aaa-aa-a/187335/19 "2003-07-10T00:12:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Padeye \* > \*\*Say, has anyone else seen AAAA (4A) batteries? A friend told me he’s seen them and I thought I saw them in best buy once but neglected to buy a pack for evidence. \*\* [http://www.mdsbattery.co.uk/shop/productprofile.asp?ProductGroupID=836](http://www.mdsbattery.co.uk/shop/productprofile.asp?ProductGroupID=836) ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battery-sizes-aaa-aa-a/187335/20 "2003-07-10T00:19:12Z")
[RadioShack AAAAs](http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&category%5Fname=CTLG%5F009%5F013%5F002%5F000&product%5Fid=23%2D879). The price went up. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battery-sizes-aaa-aa-a/187335.md?page=2)