Why no Type B Batteries?
Why no Type B Batteries?
B-type Batteries did exist, but have fallen out of use over time - so today they are not found in retail, giving the impression that they never existed
Batteries designation system
Today, the most common battery sizes are AA (type A), AAA (type AAA), C (type R14) and D (type R20). These are designation standards according to international standards - mainly according to IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) and ANSI (American Standards Institute). The letters in these designations are not consecutive in the alphabet - they are not a logical code, but an established classification system for the physical size of Batteries Others types of Batteries were in use in the first half of the 20th century, denoted by the letters A, B, C, D, etc. Type B actually existed - it was a cell format with dimensions larger than A but smaller than C. However, over time its practical importance diminished** as it did not find widespread use in commonly manufactured devices.
Why did the B battery disappear?
The reason why Type B Batteries disappeared from the market was lack of popularity and lack of demand among electronics manufacturers. *Type B was formerly used primarily in tube radio applications. They were not 'finger' cells, but larger, cylindrical secondary or primary cells**, with voltages and dimensions selected for specific applications - especially as so-called bias cells, or polarising cells.
Applications of B-type Batteries
B-type Batteries most commonly powered:
- lamp radio receivers, in which they were used to power the anodes (high-voltage section of the circuit)
- portable battery radios** from the 1930s-50s, where a separate source was needed to power electron tube grids and anodes
- Others some measuring and military equipment that used several voltage sources at different levels
Batteries typically had voltages of 22.5 V, 45 V or even 90 V, which distinguishes them from today's low-voltage batteries. From a design point of view, a B-type battery was a collection of cells connected in series, often enclosed in a rectangular or cylindrical enclosure.
Why did B-type Batteries fall out of use?
Over time, electron lamps were supplanted by Transistors, which operate at much lower voltages, and all electronics became more compact and energy efficient. Users began to prefer other sizes - mainly AA and AAA, which offered a good compromise between size and capacity. Large C- and D-type cells remained for devices requiring higher power consumption. This made high-voltage B-type batteries obsolete in consumer equipment. Such Batteries are now only found as collector's items or specialised power sources in reconstructions of vintage equipment. In normal use, they are virtually non-existent.
Is this an error in the system?
No. The absence of Type B Batteries is not due to a mistake, but to the natural evolution of technical standards. The designation system is not necessarily alphabetically continuous - as with model or series numbering, some designations may be omitted or withdrawn over time. More important than the order is the physical and electrical compatibility of Batteries with devices. So while it may seem strange that there is an A, C and D battery but not a B - this is purely due to the history of technology development and not a naming error.
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