1.5V battery cell sizes

[Michael Moroney]

Silly question: Most of us are familiar with the 1.5 volt dry cell
"battery" used in toys, radios etc. Originally zinc-carbon but now
alkaline, nicad etc. From largest to smallest of the available ones are
sized D, C, AA, AAA and (rarely) N. Question is, was there ever a "B"
sized cell or an "A" sized dry cell? They would be smaller than a "C"
but larger than a "AA", if they existed, assuming the usual size pattern
held. What were their dimensions? How about "E" or larger?

(note that I am not asking about filament, plate or grid supply batteries
in tube circuits which were often labeled "A" "B" "C" respectively. Those
are functions, not physical sizes)

 

[[email protected]]

Silly question: Most of us are familiar with the 1.5 volt dry cell
"battery" used in toys, radios etc. Originally zinc-carbon but now
alkaline, nicad etc. From largest to smallest of the available ones are
sized D, C, AA, AAA and (rarely) N. Question is, was there ever a "B"
sized cell or an "A" sized dry cell? They would be smaller than a "C"
but larger than a "AA", if they existed, assuming the usual size pattern
held. What were their dimensions? How about "E" or larger?

(note that I am not asking about filament, plate or grid supply batteries
in tube circuits which were often labeled "A" "B" "C" respectively. Those
are functions, not physical sizes)

There's also AAAA. If you can't get them, you can
disassemble a 9V battery - it is made up out of
6 AAAA size cells.

Ed

 

[T Dub]

I thought I remember seeing a "B". It was the same dia as an AA but about
twice as long.

 

[TimPerry]

"B" batteries were any high voltage battery meant to operate the plate
voltage of tube type equipment, hence the B+ on many older schematics. These
were often but not always 67 1/2 volts

"A" batteries were for the filaments. Often they were 6 volts.

 

[Andrew Gabriel]

[/QUOTE]

I recall a much larger single cell battery in the UK in the 1960's,
perhaps 2" diameter and 6" tall. It was commonly used as a gas lighter
with a push button operated exposed igniter filament on a 6" wand.
The battery connector was a bit like a giant Edison screw on the
battery top same diameter as the battery. These all vanished when
the UK switched over from town gas to natural gas around 1970, as
the ignitor filament wasn't hot enough to ignite natural gas.

Anybody remember the large 'Flag' cells? I haven't seen one for well
over twenty years, but I think they were about 150mm high x 60mm
diameter, with two brass screw terminals on top. Used mainly for
bells, I think.

Battery model 126

There used to be all sorts of odd batteries, one with several cells
(3?) side by side, and two brass contact strips on top, another with

Battery model 1289
There was an alkaline version too, MN1203

two large cells, one brass strip on top, the other on the front, used
for front lamps on bicycles I seem to remember. Then there were

I remember these, but can't remember the model number.

several different 90V HT batteries for things like portable wireless

I had one of these, which drove a 1970's "Neon Novelty" toy I built,
with 8 flashing neon bulbs.

 

[Rich256]

You snipped the part where I said I was not looking for functions in a
tube circuit, but the dimensions or sizes of (presumably discontinued)
1.5V zinc dry cells, which probably were available in increasing sizes
..AAA-AA-A-B-C-D.. to explain the large size gap between AA and C as
well as missing sizes A and B, if dry cell sizes worked like shoe widths
or bra sizes.

Someone mentioned AAAA cells being used internally in 9V transistor
batteries. I have dissected those big 6V lantern cells and they contain
4 cells that have a diameter about that of a D cell but rather longer.
Size E or maybe DD?

The answer is no, there was not a B size 1.5 volt. B battery was always a
B+ supply voltage for tubes.

There was also the No. 6 Telephone, 1.5 volt battery.