4 Facts You Need to Know About the AG10 Battery

Small button cell batteries like the LR54, LR1130, L1131 and AG10 batteries are designed to power your small devices like watches, calculators, toys or car keys.

In the spotlight today: the AG10 alkaline button cell.

AG10 Specs and Features

Here’s what you need to know about AG10, 1.5V alkaline button batteries.

AG10 Batteries Are Non-Rechargeable

The AG10 has the alkaline chemistry of a non-rechargeable primary cell. It works through the reaction between the cell’s two electrodes: zinc and manganese dioxide (MnO2).

The electrolyte is made of a metal salt called potassium hydroxide.

So, why is it non-rechargeable?

Well, it all comes down to the science behind the chemical reaction. For a battery to be recharged, the chemical reactions in the cell should be fully reversible.

That means the product of the reaction must be broken down into the same substances from which it was formed.

If A+B =C, then in the backward reaction, C must break down to produce A and B.

However, with this type of alkaline battery, The zinc/manganese dioxide reaction that produces the cell’s chemical energy can only be reversed before it reaches 40% discharge.

After the first 40%, the reaction becomes more complicated and can't be reversed.  This is because the Hydrogen ions (H+) that are formed will bond with the Manganese oxide (MnO2) to create a non-reversible compound referred to as groutite (MnOOH).

Since groutite can not be broken down into MnO2 even after the Hydrogen ions are removed, there is no way to restore the charge of the alkaline battery.

If you do attempt to recharge it, there is a risk that the cells will explode because of all the gas that will accumulate inside the seal.

AG10 Batteries Are Stable

The nominal voltage on AG10 batteries is 1.5 volts and they discharge at a continuous rate with a high cut-off range. During the discharge, they have:

• A closed-circuit loaded continuous power output of roughly 1.1 to 1.3 volts.
• A cut-off range of about 0.8 to 0.9 volts.

Plus, the batteries have a capacity of 70mAh, meaning they can supply 70 milli-amperes of current for one hour.

The charge is sufficient enough to give enough power to your small gadgets for a long time. Most of these small gadgets have an energy capacity of 1–5 milli-amperes, so 70mAh typically lasts a while.

The exact battery life will depend on how much power is drawn by the different gadgets plus the operating temperature.

Note: AG10 alkaline button batteries can operate within a broad temperature range from -10 to 60 degrees celsius. However, the optimal temperature which guarantees a longer life is approximately 21–22 degrees celsius.

Alkaline Button AG10 Batteries Have a Long Lifespan

During the reaction, the potassium hydroxide electrolyte does not participate. Since it remains unused, the battery can maintain the same power output for longer.

In addition, these alkaline button AG10s have a slow rate of self-discharge. If stored at the right temperature, they can last for up to three years in storage. After which, they'll still provide the same power output when you use them.

Note: The right temperature to store these batteries is around 10–25 degrees celsius. A storage temperature above 30 degrees celsius will interfere with the chemical reactions and damage the casing, causing leaks.