4 AA vs. 1 D

[Juggernaut]

I may be wrong here but from what I always hear is that you can normally only pull 1 amp from alkaline batteries. So why can you pull 4 amps out of 4 AA cells in parallel and only pull 1 amp out of a D cell? The D cell has more then 4 times the mass of the 4 AA cells, and they are made out of the same chemistry so why the differents?

 

[shadowjk]

Silverfox has done 3Amp discharge tests with alkaline D cells.

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=64660

 

[swampgator]

So why can you pull 4 amps out of 4 AA cells in parallel and only pull 1 amp out of a D cell?

Quick answer: 4 batts in parallel are drawing 1 amp each for a total of 4 amps. It's not a question relating to battery size or chemistry just the way the circuit is wired.

 

[Mr Happy]

A draw of 1 amp is really hard on an alkaline AA cell. Typical design loads are in the range of 0.5 to 0.75 amps for AA powered lights.

An alkaline D cell can supply comfortably more, perhaps in the range of 2 to 3 amps on max for some high powered fluorescent lanterns. Though usually, D cell powered lights are designed for much longer battery life running in the 0.5 to 1 amp range.

 

[Stereodude]

An alkaline D cell can supply comfortably more, perhaps in the range of 2 to 3 amps on max for some high powered fluorescent lanterns.

Not according to SilverFox's testing. Alkaline D cells suck at 3A discharge rates.

 

[Jarl]

Alkalines seem to suck at any discharge rate. Get over it

 

[Stereodude]

Alkalines seem to suck at any discharge rate. Get over it

Heh, I think they're ok in super low draw devices like remote controls and calculators.

 

[Illum]

Alkalines seem to suck at any discharge rate. Get over it

from the reference of lithiums yeah...but compared to carbon-zinc they appear to be able to handle moderately high current with no problems. 1 amp from alkalines is possible, but not recommended as they tend to "burst" in your light. also runtime is a bit....:candle:

both AA and D are single chambered cells...just Ds have more capacity, like something else:laughing:
1 D cell you have only one straw drinking out of a 2 liter can of coke
4AA cells you have 4 straws the size of the one on your Ds but drinking out of 4 cups of coke, but unlike Ds theres not much "slurp" time until you hit bottom