A CR2016 battery has a specified nominal amperage of 1 Milliamp (0.001 Amps), and a typical capacity of 80 Milliamp Hours (0.080 Amp Hours).
When discussing battery specifications, "amps" can refer to different aspects: the current a battery can deliver (measured in Amps, A) or its capacity (measured in Amp Hours, Ah), which indicates how long it can supply current.
Understanding Amperage (Current)
The "Amperage" listed for a CR2016 battery often refers to a nominal or typical operating current under specific conditions, or sometimes a standard discharge current for testing purposes. For a CR2016 battery:
- Nominal Amperage: 1 Milliamp (mA)
- Conversion to Amps: 0.001 Amps (A)
This 1 mA value represents a very low typical current draw. In practical applications, the actual current drawn from a CR2016 battery can vary significantly depending on the device it powers. For instance, devices like car key fobs might draw very low current in standby mode but much higher pulse currents when a button is pressed.
Understanding Battery Capacity (Amp Hours)
More commonly, when people ask "how many amps is a battery," they might be referring to its capacity, which indicates how much total electrical charge it can store and deliver over time. This is measured in Amp-Hours (Ah) or Milliamp-Hours (mAh).
- Battery Capacity: 80 Milliamp Hours (mAh)
- Conversion to Amp Hours: 0.080 Amp Hours (Ah)
This capacity value is crucial for determining how long a battery will last in a specific application. For example:
- A battery with an 80 mAh capacity can theoretically supply 1 mA of current for 80 hours (80 mAh / 1 mA = 80 hours).
- If a device draws 0.5 mA, the battery could last approximately 160 hours (80 mAh / 0.5 mA = 160 hours).
- If a device draws 10 mA, the battery would last about 8 hours (80 mAh / 10 mA = 8 hours).
It's important to note that higher discharge currents can sometimes reduce the effective capacity of a battery due to internal resistance and other factors.
Key Specifications of a CR2016 Battery
Here's a summary of the typical characteristics of a CR2016 lithium coin cell battery:
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Nominal Voltage | 3 Volts |
| Nominal Amperage | 1 Milliamp (0.001 Amps) |
| Battery Capacity | 80 Milliamp Hours (mAh) |
| Diameter | 20 mm (0.79 inches) |
| Thickness | 1.6 mm (0.06 inches) |
| Approx. Weight | 1.35 Grams |
Practical Insights and Applications
CR2016 batteries are compact and lightweight, making them ideal for small electronic devices where space is limited and low power consumption is key. Common applications include:
- Car Key Fobs: Providing power for remote locking/unlocking.
- Watches: Powering digital and analog watches.
- Calculators: Supplying power for basic and scientific calculators.
- Fitness Trackers: Powering small sensors and displays.
- Small Electronic Toys: Providing power for simple functions.
The actual current draw in these devices can vary significantly, especially for devices with intermittent high-current demands (like transmitting a signal from a key fob). While the nominal amperage is 1 mA, the battery is designed to handle short bursts of higher current when needed.
