LR44 VS SR44: What’s The Difference?

LR44 and SR44 are both button cell batteries that tend to share their application areas. They are used in small electronic devices such as calculators, toys, thermometers, watches among others. Even from their naming convention, you can tell that they have numerous similarities. However, there are also some striking differences between these two batteries. Which one should I choose between LR44 and SR44? We are here to help you get the answer. In this article, we are going to break down the key differences and at the end you will decide which battery to buy.

Overview if LR44 battery

Image source Dig-key

LR44 is an alkaline button cell battery used in wide range of small electronic devices. In this prefix, the L stands for alkaline and R for Round while the 44 refers to the physical size of the battery. The battery is cylindrical shaped and measures 11.6 millimeters in diameters and has a height of 5.4 millimeters. It is a perfect battery option for those devices that don’t need lots of power. These include calculators, watches, digital thermometers, small medical devices and toys.

With the rated capacity of 150mAh, LR44 are designed to be stable and reliable power sources to their respective application areas. They have a relatively long shelf life of between 2-3 years and a wide  temperature range in which they can operate. However, they are non-rechargeable hence should be disposed once they run out of power.

Overview of SR44 battery

SR44 source Panasonic

The Prefix SR stands for the Silver Oxide. This means that SR44 is a silver oxide button cell battery with the diameter of 11.6m m and height of 5.4mm. The battery has other names such as  SR44W and SR1154 and used in small electronic devices such as calculators, watches, digital thermometers among others.

With a rated nominal voltage of 1.55 volts, SR44 use silver oxide as cathode and zinc as anode. They have a rated capacity of 150mAh. They are also stable under different temperature conditions and tend to have a long shelf life. SR44 are non-rechargeable and should be disposed after running out of power.

LR44 battery specs

The basic specs of LR44 battery include;

• Chemical composition: This is an alkaline battery whose composition comprises of manganese dioxide at the cathode and zinc anode)
• Heigh: 5.4mm
• Diameter of 11.6mm
• Nominal voltage: 1.5 volts
• Rated capacity of 150mAh
• Shelf life of 2-3 years
• Operating temperature of between -20̊̊C to 60C
• Common alternatives AG13, PX76A,and 357

Take note that the LR44 battery specifications may have slight variations depending on the manufacturer. For instance, some of them may be customized to meet needs of specific applications.

SR44 battery specifications

• Chemical co position: The battery comprises of silver oxide on the cathode and zinc on the anode
• Height: 5.4 mm
• Diameter 11.6 mm
• Nominal voltage :1.55 volts
• Shel life: between 5-10 years
• Rated capacity: 150mAh
• Operating temperature of -10̊°C to60°C
• Alternative names for the battery: SR1154, SR44W SR357 and A76

Just like for the case of LR44, the specifications may vary depending on the manufacturer. This is why it is encouraged to buy from certain brands and not others.

LR44 VS SR44: What’s The Difference?

From the specifications, let’s look at the key differences between LR44 and SR44 batteries.

Chemical composition

This is the main difference between LR44 vs SR44 batteries. They have different chemical makeup which is the main source of their power. LR44 are alkaline batteries whereby the composition comprises of manganese and zinc at cathode and anode respectively. On the other hand, SR44 composition comprises of silver oxide.

The difference in chemical composition may have an impact on their performance and even shelf life.  It may also affect their stability and how they react to temperature range.

Voltage: LR44vs SR44

LR44 has the nominal voltage of 1.5 volts while SR44 has a rated voltage of 1.55 volts. As you can see, the difference in voltage is very small though SR44 seems to have a higher voltage than the SR44.

The difference on their voltage mainly stems from the fact that they have a different chemical composition. This implies that the silver oxide composition has slightly higher output than the alkaline composition.

Capacity: LR44 vs SR44

Just like for the case of voltage, SR44 seems to have an upper hand when it comes to the capacity of the battery. It has a rated capacity of 165mAh while LR44 has a rated capacity of LR44.

Even though the difference may seem to be too small, it simply means that SR44 will have a longer running time than the LR44. However, take note that some SR44 have a rated capacity of 150mAh while others it can be as high as 195mAh. So, you should be keen on the specs of the battery as indicated by the manufacturer. This also implies that the brand where you buy matters when it comes to the battery capacity.

Temperature range: LR44 vs SR44

Both the batteries seem to have the same range of operating temperatures. They are designed to work well at temperature range of between -20°C to +60°C. When it comes to button cell batteries, the wider the temperature range the better. It means that the battery can be used in different environment.

The above figure simply that you should not go use the batteries outside their temperature ranges as this can lead to physical and electrical damage. Additionally, you should confirm with the manufacturer about the operating temperature as they may vary from one battery brand to another.

Price: LR44 vs SR44

While the two batteries tend to fall within the same price range, SR44 batteries are slightly more expensive than the LR44. This stems from the fact that they have a few extra features that give them an edge over the LR44. For example, they have longer shelf life than LR44.

Also, the fact that SR44 are not widely available could be a key factor behind their higher prices. Remember that the price of these two button cell batteries will always depend on the brand and suppliers.

Conclusion

From the differences that we have outlined, you can tell which battery is perfect for your application. Always ensure that you buy from reputable SR44 and LR44 batteries suppliers for you to be sure about the quality of battery that you will end up with.

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