What is the difference between an AA and a 14500 ?

Sardonicus1 · 2019-12-15T20:31:57.000Z

Does the 14500 just indicate it is an AA that is rechargeable ? Is the IKEA AA rechargeable also a 14500 ? Thanks in advance …

anonymous_user · 2019-12-15T20:35:48.000Z

Rechargable AAs are usually a NiMH battery. A 14500 is a lithium ion battery. They supply different voltages so you would need to make sure your flashlight supports the battery type you want to use.

Sardonicus1 · 2019-12-15T20:36:54.000Z

OK , thanks . I would need to use a 14500 in the Lumintop 2.0 AA for the 650 lumen output ? I take it that the rechargeable IKEA AA will not work then ?

anonymous_user · 2019-12-15T20:42:21.000Z

Yes you need a 14500 for the 650lm turbo output. AA will also work but your turbo will drop to 270lm.

extremesquared · 2019-12-15T21:05:37.000Z

14500 just describes dimensions and shape, not chemistry. There’s really no reason a 14500 couldn’t be alkaline/NiMH other than it being a dumb and confusing thing for manufacturers to do. I’m sure I’ve seen 3V 14500s before.

Sardonicus1 · 2019-12-15T21:13:19.000Z

anonymous_user:

Yes you need a 14500 for the 650lm turbo output. AA will also work but your turbo will drop to 270lm.

Is there a difference in output between a regular AA and a rechargeable AA ? Thanks .

Firelight2 · 2019-12-15T21:14:13.000Z

14500 = 14mm wide by 50mm long. The final “0” indicates the cell is in a can.

14500 cells are the same size and shape as AA. However, a AA cell is typically 1.5 volts full, while most 14500 cells use lithium ion chemistry and are up to 4.1v full.

If you put a cell with the wrong voltage in your device it either won’t work or it may damage your device.

anonymous_user · 2019-12-15T21:21:38.000Z

Sardonicus1:

anonymous_user:

Yes you need a 14500 for the 650lm turbo output. AA will also work but your turbo will drop to 270lm.

Is there a difference in output between a regular AA and a rechargeable AA ? Thanks .

No but I would stick with rechargeables if you want AA.

JamesB · 2019-12-15T21:23:06.000Z

Sardonicus1:

anonymous_user:

Yes you need a 14500 for the 650lm turbo output. AA will also work but your turbo will drop to 270lm.

Is there a difference in output between a regular AA and a rechargeable AA ? Thanks .

Alcalines are worthless in any high drain usage compared to good nimh.

gravelmonkey · 2019-12-15T22:48:09.000Z

extremesquared:

14500 just describes dimensions and shape, not chemistry. There’s really no reason a 14500 couldn’t be alkaline/NiMH other than it being a dumb and confusing thing for manufacturers to do. I’m sure I’ve seen 3V 14500s before.

I think you’re thinking about non rechargeable 14500 cells available from Saft in Lithium thionyl chloride chemistry. Produce 3.6V, only specified for low current draw, very expensive.

Used for weird stuff like scientific instruments and electronic memory backup. No good for torches.

Scallywag · 2019-12-15T23:10:33.000Z

Firelight2:

14500 = 14mm wide by 50mm long. The final “0” indicates the cell is in a can.

14500 cells are the same size and shape as AA. However, a AA cell is typically 1.5 volts full, while most 14500 cells use lithium ion chemistry and are up to 4.1v full.

If you put a cell with the wrong voltage in your device it either won’t work or it may damage your device.

Well, full LiIon can be 4.2v or 4.35 depending who you ask.
NiMh is full about 1.4. Alkaline 1.65. Energizer Lithium 1.8ish.
I’ve also seen 3.6v primary lithium in 14500 as well as 3v (full at around 3.7 and 3.33 respectively).

extremesquared · 2019-12-15T23:47:30.000Z

gravelmonkey:

extremesquared:

14500 just describes dimensions and shape, not chemistry. There’s really no reason a 14500 couldn’t be alkaline/NiMH other than it being a dumb and confusing thing for manufacturers to do. I’m sure I’ve seen 3V 14500s before.

I think you’re thinking about non rechargeable 14500 cells available from Saft in Lithium thionyl chloride chemistry. Produce 3.6V, only specified for low current draw, very expensive.

Used for weird stuff like scientific instruments and electronic memory backup. No good for torches.

Sounds familiar. Ultra long shelf life? I could have sworn I saw them in 3.0V max chemistry but it was a long time ago.

Either way my point is that only 99% of the time “14500” is written or said does it refer to “4.2V max Lithium Ion 14500”. A little bit of pedantry when explaining electronics terminology is acceptable in the name of safety.