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The article says that 9V batteries have fallen out of favor and links to this explanation that makes no sense to me: A 9 volt battery uses six smaller 1.5 volt

The article says that 9V batteries have fallen out of favor and links to this explanation that makes no sense to me: A 9 volt battery uses six smaller 1.5 volt cells connected in series to achieve its 9 volts. But cramming that many cells into a compact enclosure leads to less space, resulting in lower energy density and shorter lifespan. Why would a 9V battery have less energy density than 6 ordinary AA cells of 1.5V each? If you shrink down AA cells to the size and shape to pack into the rectangular 9V form factor, isn’t it exactly the same energy density as full size AA’s?

fsh 2y ago
The encapsulation of the six small cells takes up a significant fraction of the volume of a 9V battery.
birdman3131 2y ago
Because what is in a 9 volt is 6 AAAA batteries. They are smaller than even an AAA battery. Only thing I know that uses them is some of the surface drawing pens and the like. That said if you need 9 volts ask a church. I know we would gladly hand you a box of half full ones as you have to pull them out of the wireless mics before they die. And older Shure mics are 9 volt.
- ssl-3 2y ago
  Perhaps interestingly, some 9V batteries (Varta comes to mind) have a stack of cells with rectangular cross section instead that of a cylinder (like AAAA), which suggests an improvement in energy density.
- computator 2y ago
  > Because what is in a 9 volt is 6 AAAA But then the question would shift to: Why wouldn’t a AAAA cell have the same energy density of a AA cell? Remember that the argument is about energy density, not total energy. By the way, I think that fsh’s reply is a convincing answer: it’s the extra packaging that kills the density.
  - DanTheManPR 2y ago
    The current collector also takes up relatively more volume, on top of the packaging (the wall thickness would be the same, and it's not a trivial part of the volume of small cell batteries).

fsh 2y ago

The encapsulation of the six small cells takes up a significant fraction of the volume of a 9V battery.

birdman3131 2y ago

Because what is in a 9 volt is 6 AAAA batteries. They are smaller than even an AAA battery. Only thing I know that uses them is some of the surface drawing pens and the like. That said if you need 9 volts ask a church. I know we would gladly hand you a box of half full ones as you have to pull them out of the wireless mics before they die. And older Shure mics are 9 volt.

ssl-3 2y ago
Perhaps interestingly, some 9V batteries (Varta comes to mind) have a stack of cells with rectangular cross section instead that of a cylinder (like AAAA), which suggests an improvement in energy density.
computator 2y ago
> Because what is in a 9 volt is 6 AAAA But then the question would shift to: Why wouldn’t a AAAA cell have the same energy density of a AA cell? Remember that the argument is about energy density, not total energy. By the way, I think that fsh’s reply is a convincing answer: it’s the extra packaging that kills the density.
- DanTheManPR 2y ago
  The current collector also takes up relatively more volume, on top of the packaging (the wall thickness would be the same, and it's not a trivial part of the volume of small cell batteries).