The C battery (C size battery or R14 battery) is a standard size of

dry cell upLine art drawing of a dry cell: 1. brass cap, 2. plastic seal, 3. expansion space, 4. porous cardboard, 5. zinc can, 6. carbon rod, 7. chemical mixture A dry cell is a type of electric battery, commonly used for portable electrical devices. Un ...

battery Battery most often refers to: * Electric battery, a device that provides electrical power * Battery (crime), a crime involving unlawful physical contact Battery may also refer to: Energy source *Automotive battery, a device to provide power t ...

typically used in medium-drain applications such as toys,

flashlight A flashlight ( US, Canada) or torch ( UK, Australia) is a portable hand-held electric lamp. Formerly, the light source typically was a miniature incandescent light bulb, but these have been displaced by light-emitting diodes (LEDs) since the ...

s, and musical instruments. As of 2007, C batteries accounted for 4% of alkaline primary battery sales in the United States. In Switzerland as of 2008, C batteries totalled 5.4% of primary battery sales and 3.4% of secondary (rechargeable) battery sales.

Properties

A C-battery measures length and diameter. The

voltage Voltage, also known as electric pressure, electric tension, or (electric) potential difference, is the difference in electric potential between two points. In a static electric field, it corresponds to the work needed per unit of charge to m ...

and capacity of a C-size battery depends on the battery chemistry and discharge conditions. The nominal voltage is 1.5V. Alkaline C batteries have a storage capacity up to 8000

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while rechargeable NiMH C batteries can hold up to 6000 mAh. Zinc-carbon C batteries usually hold up to 3800 mAh. Compared to the AAA and AA batteries, C-batteries' storage capacities are significantly higher.

Standardisation

Like the

D battery A D battery (D cell or IEC R20) is a standardized size of a dry cell. A D cell is cylindrical with an electrical contact at each end; the positive end has a nub or bump. D cells are typically used in high current drain applications, such as in ...

, the C battery size has been standardized since the 1920s.Ron Runkles (ed) ''A Brief History of the Standardization of Portable Cells and Batteries in the United States'', American National Standards Institute Accredited Standards Committee C18 on Portable Cells and Batteries, 2002
ANSI Battery Standardization History, 2010 Jan 9
/ref> The AA,

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, and N sizes have been in common use since the 1950s. The C battery is called "14" in current

ANSI The American National Standards Institute (ANSI ) is a private non-profit organization that oversees the development of voluntary consensus standards for products, services, processes, systems, and personnel in the United States. The organi ...

standards of

battery nomenclature Standard battery nomenclature describes portable dry cell batteries that have physical dimensions and electrical characteristics interchangeable between manufacturers. The long history of disposable dry cells means that many manufacturer-specifi ...

, and in

IEC The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC; in French: ''Commission électrotechnique internationale'') is an international standards organization that prepares and publishes international standards for all electrical, electronic and r ...

standards is designated "R14".

Other common names

* U11 (In Britain until the 1980s) * MN1400 * MX1400 * Baby * Bébielem (Hungary) * Type 343 (Soviet Union/Russia) * BA-42 (US Military Spec World War II–1980s) * UM 2 (JIS) * #2 (China) * 6135-99-199-4779 (NSN) (carbon-zinc) * 6135-99-117-3212 (NSN) (alkaline) * HP-11 * Mezza torcia (Italy) * Pila Mediana (Argentina) * Pilha média (Brazil) * Pin Trung (Vietnam)

References

External links

Brand Neutral Drawing Of Alkaline C Battery Based On ANSI SpecificationsBrand Neutral Drawing Of NiCd C Battery Based On ANSI SpecificationsBrand Neutral Drawing Of NiMH C Battery Based On ANSI SpecificationsEnergizer C Size Battery Specification for Alkaline Cell
* A datasheet for a C size battery: {{Portal bar, Energy, Electronics Battery shapes

Properties

Standardisation

Other common names

See also

References

External links