CR1220 vs BR1220: What's The Difference?

Last Updated on October 24, 2023 by Kevin Chen

You have two button cell batteries to choose, CR1220 and BR1220. Which one should you choose?

This dilemma is quite common among most buyers. This is because the two batteries are similar in many aspects and at the same time are used in the same application areas.

To make the right choice, you will have to dig deep into the details of each battery.

And that is the exact purpose of this article.

We are going to break down the differences between CR 1220 vs BR1220.

At the end of it all you should be able to choose the right one, of course from the best button-cell battery suppliers in China.

Table of Contents

CR1220 overview

Image source: Panasonic

The ‘CR’ acronym stands for Coin lithium manganese dioxide battery. They are also known as lithium coin batteries.

These are coin cell batteries that are commonly used in small portable electronic devices such as calculators, watches medical devices among others.

CR1220 is a 3-volt lithium battery that is a non-rechargeable. This means that once the power of the battery is depleted, you will have to discard the battery.

These batteries are quite affordable and have a commendable shelf-life. They are also widely available as there are many manufacturers that specialize in making them.

Be careful not to confuse the CR1220 with the CR2032. While both are coin rechargeable, they have technical differences such as capacity, voltage, and even physical capacity such as weight.

The cylindrical shape and the compact design makes these batteries applicable in small-size devices.

BR1220 overview

Image source: Digikey

Like the CR1220, BR1220 is another lithium battery that should attract your attention. Moreso if you are deep into lithium-powered batteries.

What does the BR stand for? It stands for battery rechargeable.

These are equally popular coin batteries known for their high reliability and efficiency.

BR1220 are small and cylindrical. They are perfectly designed to fit into small devices. While BR1220 can serve as a primary power source, it is also used as a backup source of power in some devices such as pacemakers.

BR1220 is equally ranked among the high-performance batteries since it is capable of supplying up to 12 Amperes continuous current. It also has a commendable operation life as it can be recharged for as more as 500 times without undergoing degradation.

It is also a hardy battery that can withstand harsh condition and rough handling.

Specs of CE1220

Here are the technical specifications of the CR1220 battery

Nominal voltage 3.0 volts
Cut-off voltage 2.0 volts
Nominal capacity 37mAh
Dimension: 12.5mm ×2.0mm
Classification Lithium coin
Chemical composition: Lithium/Manganese Dioxide
Weight: 0.8 grams
Designation : ANSI-5012LC,IEC-CE1220
Typical volume: 0.25 cubic centimeters
Max Rev Charge: 1 microampere
Operating Temperature -30C-+70C
Energy density: 153 milliwatt hr/g
Self discharge rate 1% per year

Technical specifications of BR1220

These specs include:

Dimension: 12.5mm ×2.0mm
Nominal capacity 35mAh
Continuous standard drain 0.03mA
Battery type BR coin
Designation : ANSI-5012LC,IEC-CE1220
Operating temperatures -20 – +55C

Advantages and disadvantages of CR1220 battery

For a better understanding of this coin-cell battery, let’s take a look at its pros and cons

Pros

-High energy density: Despite being small, the battery has a high voltage capacity

-Small, compact and lightweight: The construction of the CR1220 makes it suitable for small devices

-High leakage resistance hence proper utilization of the energy

-Meets the required safety standards by the international bodies such as UL

-Impressive discharge characteristics

Cons

The main disadvantage of CR1220 and even BR1220 is they are non-rechargeable. This means that you cannot recharge them once they run out of power. You will have to buy new coin-cell batteries

CR1220 vs BR1220: What’s The Difference?

Now let’s compare these two batteries. The CR1220 vs the BR1220 on their various aspects.

Chemical composition

While the two batteries may appear to be the same, they have different chemical compositions. CR is a manganese-dioxide lithium battery hence the name C. On the other hand, BR is a carbon-monofluoride lithium battery hence the name ‘B’.

What is the difference between these chemicals?

Voltage and current

The two batteries have almost the same power characteristics. Both have the nominal voltage of 3.0V and the cutoff voltage of 2.0V. However, you may find the older vversions of BR1220 with the nominal voltage of 2.5V and cutoff voltage of 2.25V.

When it comes to capacity, CR1220 has the rated capacity of between 35-40 mAh while BR1220 has the rated capacity of 35mAh.

The two batteries have the same discharge current which is 0.1A

Physical dimension

From the specs, it is clear that the two batteries have the same width and height. They also tend to have the same weight. So, if it comes to using them on a device, you will not feel any significant difference.

Cost

The cost of CR12 20 and BR1220 is almost the same. The fact that they have almost the same specifications you should not expect the difference in prices. The only issue of concern is availability and this will end up affecting their prices.

CR1220 batteries are widely available as compared to the BR1220, so, you should expect them to be cheaper.

The price will also depend on where you buy these batteries. Some button-cell battries are more affordable than others. So, it will be prudent to take your time to choose the right one.

Applications

CR1220 and BR1220 have the same application areas. They are used in:

-Cameras

-PDAs

-Keyless entry devices

Portable heartrate monitors

-LED Flashlights

Medical scales

Key-less remotes

What other device do you think is perfectly suited for these batteries?

Which one should I buy? CR1220 vs BR1220?

After analyzing the differences between CR1220 vs BR120, it’s time to make a choice. Technically, these two batteries have the same features and are even interchangeable. The choice on what to buy will ultimately depend on your preference and maybe the availability of the battery.

And if you are planning to buy CR1220 or BR1220 batteries in China, consider choosing ICRFQ. We are a reputable supplier of CR1220 and BR1220 batteries for sale.

If you want to find more Electronic Components Distributors, please check out the following articles:

Electronic Components Distributors In the USA

Electronic Components Distributors In UK

Electronic Components Distributors In China

Electronic Components Distributors In India

Electronic Components Distributors In Singapore

Electronic Components Distributors In Malaysia

Electronic Components Distributors In Vietnam

Electronic Components Distributors In South Korea

Electronic Components Distributors In Taiwan

Electronic Components Distributors In Hong Kong

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Author
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Kevin Chen

Founder / Writer at Rantle East Electronic Trading Co.,Limited

I am Kevin Chen, I graduated from University of Electronic Science and Technology of China in 2000. I am an electrical and electronic engineer with 23 years of experience, in charge of writting content for ICRFQ. I am willing use my experiences to create reliable and necessary electronic information to help our readers. We welcome readers to engage with us on various topics related to electronics such as IC chips, capacitors, resistors, inductors, circuit breakers, diode, transistor, module, relay, opticalcoupler, connectors, PCBs, etc. Please feel free to share your thoughts and questions on these subjects with us. We look forward to hearing from you!