C battery explained

The C battery (C size battery or R14 battery) is a standard size of dry cell battery typically used in medium-drain applications such as toys, flashlights, 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.^{[1] [2]}

Properties

A C battery measures 502NaN2 length and 26.22NaN2 diameter.^[3]

The voltage 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 mAh 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.^[4]

Standardisation

Like the D battery, the C battery size has been standardized since the 1920s.^[5] The AA, AAA, and N sizes have been in common use since the 1950s.^[6]

The C battery is called "14" in current ANSI standards of battery nomenclature, and in IEC 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)
• Orta Pil / Orta boy pil (Turkey)
• Pin Trung (Vietnam)

See also

• Battery holder
• List of battery sizes

External links

• Brand Neutral Drawing Of Alkaline C Battery Based On ANSI Specifications
• Brand Neutral Drawing Of NiCd C Battery Based On ANSI Specifications
• Brand Neutral Drawing Of NiMH C Battery Based On ANSI Specifications
• Energizer C Size Battery Specification for Alkaline Cell
• A datasheet for a C size battery: Web site: Duracell MN1400 Datasheet . . 8 June 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120521213953/http://www.duracell.com/media/en-US/pdf/gtcl/Product_Data_Sheet/NA_DATASHEETS/MN1400_US_CT.pdf . 21 May 2012 . dead.

Notes and References

1. http://www.epbaeurope.net/documents/NEMA_alkalinelca2011.pdf Life Cycle Impacts of Alkaline Batteries with a Focus on End-of-Life - EPBA-EU
2. https://web.archive.org/web/20120325171702/http://www.inobat.ch/fileadmin/user_upload/pdf_09/Absatz_Statistik_2008.pdf
3. IEC 60086-2 §7.1.3
4. Web site: C Battery - TechNotes . 2022-12-03 . www.technotes.org.
5. 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
6. Popular Science . Clever New Gadgets Run on Flashlight Batteries . Howard G. McEntee . 174 . 3 . Bonnier Corporation . 132 . 0161-7370 . March 1959 .