 Carbon Zinc batteries work best with low or moderate power requirements. With every use the voltage drops until it is time to throw it away. The Carbon Zinc is limited for use in some of the newer portable electronic products with their higher drain requirements, but is still good for flashlights and intermittent use.
General purpose batteries like Carbon Zinc don't withstand heat and cold very well. And long storage periods when temperatures soar above 100º F, such as in our cars during the summer, cause deterioration. The heat drives out the moisture from the chemical mix in the cell. It's not a good performer at low temperatures either. At 0º F or below, the cell's chemical activity is so decreased that there is little service life.
The cutaway at left shows the typical construction of a Carbon Zinc battery; click on the image to see a larger view with additional information.
When the Enercell Battery Guidebook was produced, carbon zinc batteries had three big advantages: low cost, a wide number of sizes, and they are readily available. Advances in technology and manufacturing techniques have eliminated these advantages by lowering the costs of producing alkalines in a wide range of readily available sizes. Alkaline batteries have almost entirely replaced carbon zinc and zinc chloride in RadioShack's product line.
Cadmium Zinc Battery Characteristics
| Chemical Reaction |
2MnO2 + 2NH4Cl + Zn --> ZnCL2.2NH3 + H2O + MN2O3 |
| Operating Temperature |
20º F to 130º F (-6º C to 54.4º C). Low temperature drastically reduces service capacity. |
| Recommended for |
Toys, radios, flashlights, amplifiers, and lighting. |
| Initial Voltage |
Varies |
| Capacity |
Lowest capacity of the primary battery types. These batteries do not have a standard capacity rating; see the Capacity heading for a full explanation. |
| Discharge Rate |
Sloping. |
| Internal Resistance |
Very low; it increases with usage, storage or at low temperature. |
| Impedance |
Low. |
| Storage Life |
Up to 18 months |
| Storage Temperature |
-40º F to 120º F (-40º C to 48.9º C) |
| Disposal |
Not recyclable; check with your local authority (city/county/parish) for proper disposal. |
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