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Eveready Cylindrical Alkaline Cylindrical Alkaline
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©2001 Eveready Battery Company, Inc.
APPLICATION MANUAL
Eveready Cylindrical Alkaline
Application Manual


Eveready Cylindrical Alkaline (Zn/MnO
2
) Batteries
System Description
In answer to a growing need for a high rate source of portable power, Eveready technology has developed the Eveready
alkaline battery. The Eveready alkaline system is designed to provide an economical power source for todays devices that
require heavy current or continuous use. The general characteristics of the alkaline system are:

Better discharge rate capability than carbon zinc
Lower and more stable internal resistance than carbon zinc
Better low temperature performance than carbon zinc
Better service maintenance than carbon zinc
Higher energy density than carbon Zinc
More economical than carbon zinc in terms of cost per hour of use on high current drains
Sloping discharge curve
Relatively insensitive to changes in the discharge rate or duty cycle
Available in voltages ranging from 1.5 to 12.0 and in a variety of shapes and sizes


Battery Description
Cylindrical alkaline batteries are produced with a high surface area zinc anode, a high density manganese dioxide
cathode, and a potassium hydroxide electrolyte. A cutaway of a typical cylindrical alkaline battery is illustrated in the
following diagram: Cylindrical Alkaline
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©2001 Eveready Battery Company, Inc.
APPLICATION MANUAL


Cathodes are a mixture of high purity electrolytic manganese dioxide and carbon conductor.
Anodes are a gelled mixture of zinc powder and electrolyte
Separators of specially selected materials prevent migration of any solid particles in the battery
Steel can confines active materials and serves as the cathode collector
Brass pin serves as the anode collector
Top and bottom covers provide contact surfaces of nickel-plated steel
Non-conductive plastic film label electronically insulates the battery
Molded nylon seal provides a safety venting mechanism


Electrochemistry
The rate capability, energy density, service maintenance and low temperature performance of the cylindrical alkaline
system are the result of an electrochemical interaction between:
Cylindrical Alkaline
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©2001 Eveready Battery Company, Inc.
APPLICATION MANUAL
A high purity, high density cathode containing a conductive carbon matrix
A high purity, high surface area zinc anode
A highly conductive, low freezing point electrolyte solution

The open circuit voltage of fresh cylindrical alkaline batteries is typically 1.58 volts. The closed circuit voltage declines
gradually as a function of the depth of discharge; therefore greater hours of service are obtained as the functional end
point voltage is lowered. The energy output of alkaline batteries is less sensitive to variation in the discharge rate and
duty cycle than comparable size LeClanche or zinc chloride batteries. Typical D size alkaline performance to a 0.9 volt
cutoff is shown in the following diagrams:



The electrochemical inputs of cylindrical alkaline batteries are greater than that of similar sized carbon zinc batteries. This
additional energy, in conjunction with high efficiency, gives cylindrical alkaline batteries a service advantage on simulated
application tests of 4 to 9 times that of carbon zinc as shown in the following chart:
Cylindrical Alkaline
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©2001 Eveready Battery Company, Inc.
APPLICATION MANUAL


TEST

LOAD

DUTY CYCLE

E95 vs. 950
Typical Percent of
Carbon Zinc Service

Motor Toy

2.2 ohms

1 hr/day

960%

Recorder

3.9 ohms

1 hr/day

440%

Flashlight

2.2 ohms

4 min/hr, 8
hrs/day

400%

Radio

39 ohms

4 hrs/day

425%


This ability of cylindrical alkaline batteries to deliver more energy than carbon zinc under continuous or heavy duty, high
drain conditions is shown by the following discharge curves:


Cylindrical Alkaline
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©2001 Eveready Battery Company, Inc.
APPLICATION MANUAL
However, as the drain rate is decreased and the duty cycle on-time reduced, the service difference between the alkaline
and carbon zinc systems is reduced. This reduction in the service difference is shown by the following discharge curves:



Temperature
In general, changes in usage temperature affect the service of alkaline batteries to a lesser degree than comparable size
carbon zinc batteries.
Heavy drain is defined as current that would discharge the battery within one day at room temperature.
Moderate drain is defined as a current that would discharge the battery in approximately one week at room
temperature.
Light drain is defined as a current that would discharge the battery after one month or more at room temperature.
Service on all drains after storage at high temperatures is eventually reduced by an increase in self discharge.
Because of the high purity of materials used, their basic electrochemical stability, and patented sealing techniques,
Eveready alkaline batteries exhibit excellent service maintenance characteristics. On moderate drains between a 0.75 volt
and 0.9 volt Functional End Point (FEP), the following typical service maintenance can be expected at storage periods and
temperatures indicated below.


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©2001 Eveready Battery Company, Inc.
APPLICATION MANUAL


The testing of cylindrical alkaline batteries at higher or lower discharge rates can affect the percent of retained ampere-
hour capacity by approximately 5% to 10%.



While the storage of alkaline batteries at temperatures below 21
o
C will increase their service maintenance, the percentage
of ampere-hour capacity saved makes storage at low temperatures uneconomical under most circumstances. Storage at
temperatures exceeding 21
o
C for sustained periods of time will significantly reduce service maintenance. However, in all
cases, the high temperature service maintenance of alkaline batteries is greater than comparable carbon zinc. The typical
effect of storage temperature on alkaline service maintenance is shown in the following diagram.

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©2001 Eveready Battery Company, Inc.
APPLICATION MANUAL


Internal Resistance
The internal resistance (R
i
) of a battery is its opposition to the flow of current. In all cases, this resistance increases as
the temperature of a battery decreases. While the absolute R
i
will vary with the load, the rate at which it increases in
cylindrical alkaline batteries is significantly less than that of carbon zinc. The R
i
of a cylindrical alkaline battery remains
relatively constant until it approaches end of service life and then increases rapidly as shown in the following diagram:





Cylindrical Alkaline
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©2001 Eveready Battery Company, Inc.
APPLICATION MANUAL
Internal resistance is typically measured in one of two ways:
1. As a reduction in closed circuit voltage when the applied load is increased (voltage drop)
2. As a maximum short circuit current (flash amps)
The R
j
values obtained are subject to a number of variables and measurement techniques. The effective R
j
values shown
on individual data pages were calculated using the voltage drop method which projects the batteries current carrying
capability in actual device applications. This calculation involves placing a battery on a constant background load, allowing
it to stabilize, and then pulse it with a heavier load for one second. The resulting voltage drop is then measured and
expressed in terms of ohms as shown in the following example:
Determination of Internal Resistance
Voltage Drop Method
R
j
= Internal Resistance
R
b
Resistance of Background Load
E
b
= Background Voltage
R
p
= Resistance at Pulse Load
E
p
= Voltage at End of Pulse
E = Voltage Change
I = Current Change
I
b
= Background Current
I
p
= Current at End of Pulse
Although short circuit current (flash amps) does not indicate battery freshness or potential
service, circuit designers should be aware of the maximum current that a battery could
supply if a component failure occurs. Given below are typical maximum flash amperage
values for Eveready alkaline batteries. These flash amp values can vary widely without
affecting battery service in actual applications and will typically be 50 to 60% of maximum
shown.


Alkaline Battery
Size


Typical Maximum Flash Amperage
(total circuit resistance of 10 milliohms or less)
D
16
C
15
AA
10
AAA
9 Cylindrical Alkaline
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©2001 Eveready Battery Company, Inc.
APPLICATION MANUAL
AAAA
8
N
7
6V
20
9V
9


The exceptional current carrying capability, low and essentially constant internal resistance, shelf life and good low
temperature performance of Eveready alkaline batteries enables them to meet a wide variety of device application
requirements, such as:
He