AAA Lithium Batteries
A majority of the sold AAA batteries are alkaline batteries, but in certain electric devices the lithium AAA battery is to be preferred. The lithium AAA battery differs from the common alkaline AAA battery in several ways.
The lithium AAA battery will be equipped with lithium metal anodes. In a battery, the anode is the name used for the negative contact that the electrons flow from. The positive contact is called cathode. A lithium cell can produce around 3 V, which is twice the voltage of an ordinary alkaline cell.
The term lithium battery is used for a wide range of different batteries containing different active ingredients besides lithium. One of the most commonly used lithium cells contains a lithium anode and a manganese dioxide cathode, and has a lithium salt dissolved in an organic solvent.
The lithium AAA battery has a 1250 MilliAmpHour capacity and produces 1.5 volt. This distinguishes it from the alkaline AAA batteries that have a capacity between 900 and 1,155 MilliAmpHour. (The voltage is however exactly the same as in the in lithium AAA battery, 1.5 volt). You can use the lithium AAA battery instead of the alkaline AAA battery in many electric devices, but you must keep the higher voltage in mind.
The lithium AAA battery is of the same size as the alkaline AAA battery, but is 1/3 less heavy. This is naturally a good thing in portable devices since you want to drag along as little weight as possible.
Another important difference between the alkaline AAA battery and the lithium AAA battery is that the lithium AAA battery is much more resilient to cold. Alkaline batteries will often loose capacity as the temperature drops, but lithium batteries can work effortlessly even when the temperature drops below zero. The storage and operating temperature range for a high quality lithium AAA battery goes from -40° C to + 60° C. This is equal to -40° F and +140° F. This has made the lithium AAA battery very popular in devices that must be able to endure cold weather, such a small flashlight that will be used outdoor during the winter. You can also use the lithium AAA battery in refrigerated areas.
In addition to being more cold tolerant than the alkaline batteries, the lithium AAA battery will provide your electronic device with power for a much longer period of time. The shelf life is also higher for the lithium AAA battery. A high-quality lithium AAA battery that is stored under ideal conditions can still be usable after 10 years or more.
The lithium AAA battery is more expensive to purchase than the alkaline AAA battery, but it can still be a good choice since it will last longer and thereby save you money in the long run. If you plan to use your batteries in a low-quality toy or something with a similarly short life-span, purchasing the expensive lithium AAA battery can be unnecessary since it will most likely outlive the device itself. (You can of course simply move the lithium AAA battery to a new device when the toy breaks.) The lithium AAA battery is not only used to save money in the long run, it is also appreciated by those who wish to minimize the amount of battery changes. If you bring your digital camera along for an extended trip you might for instance want to know that your batteries will last during the entire trip. The lithium AAA battery is also used in heavy demand devices where the use of ordinary alkaline AAA batteries would force you to constantly change or recharge them.
