What is the difference between AA and AAA batteries?

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SUMMARY

The primary difference between AA and AAA batteries lies in their physical size and energy storage capacity. Both types provide a voltage of 1.5V under light loads; however, 4 AA batteries can deliver approximately 6V, while 3 AAA batteries yield around 4.5V. AA batteries generally have a higher capacity, ranging from 1800 to 2600 mAh compared to AAA batteries, which range from 860 to 1200 mAh. This increased capacity allows AA batteries to output more total energy and potentially more current, depending on the internal resistance and battery technology used.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of battery chemistry and types, specifically alkaline batteries.
  • Knowledge of electrical concepts such as voltage, current, and capacity.
  • Familiarity with milliamp-hours (mAh) as a measure of battery capacity.
  • Basic understanding of series and parallel wiring configurations.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the specifications and performance characteristics of different alkaline battery brands.
  • Learn about the impact of internal resistance on battery performance.
  • Explore the differences between series and parallel battery configurations.
  • Investigate the applications and suitability of AA versus AAA batteries in various devices.
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for electronics enthusiasts, battery manufacturers, and anyone involved in selecting batteries for devices, particularly those comparing AA and AAA battery options.

sivaswetha
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What is the difference between AA and AAA batteries? Will the output voltage of 3 AAA and 4AA be same?
 
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Yes. They have the same voltage, but AA batteries store more energy than AAA.
 
Ok.thank you
 
sivaswetha said:
What is the difference between AA and AAA batteries?

Physical size and energy storage capacity. The voltage on light loads will be the same = 1.5V for alkaline cells.
Will the output voltage of 3 AAA and 4AA be same?

No. The voltage of 3AAA will be around 4.5V and 4AA will be around 6V.
 
CWatters said:
and 4AA will be around 6V.

as will 4 AAA 's
 
Jumping onto his thread for a question I had, will AA batteries output more current than AAA will?
 
CWatters said:
No. The voltage of 3AAA will be around 4.5V and 4AA will be around 6V.
Caveat being that the OP didn't specify series or parallel wiring, so we can't be sure which is the right answer.
 
Karmaslap said:
Jumping onto his thread for a question I had, will AA batteries output more current than AAA will?
More total energy for sure, more current probably -- that's a function of internal resistance of the battery, which should be lower for the AA.
 
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Depends on the battery technology, so let's talk alkaline.

The difference between AA and AAA alkaline batteries is the physical size and the capacity, generally measured in milliamp-hours.
The range varies depending on the manufacturer and the battery line.
AA (50ma draw) 1800–2600 mAh
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AA_battery
http://data.energizer.com/PDFs/E91.pdf
AAA (50ma draw) 860–1,200 mAh
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AAA_battery
http://data.energizer.com/PDFs/E92.pdf

The max current capability will be more for a AA given the same battery family (technology and "style")
 
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