Lithium-Thionyl Chloride (Li-SOCL 2) batteries are very specialized D-cell batteries. Note that the actual capacity of these batteries greatly depends on the discharge current - some battery brands claim 20+ Ah capacity for their D-cells, however, such capacities are achieved while the batteries are being drained with very low currents (15-30 mAh).Īlkaline D-cells are the most popular D-cell batteries. When compared with zinc-carbon batteries, alkaline batteries offer many advantages.Īlkaline D-cells cost slightly more than zinc-carbon batteries but have a much larger capacity (12-18 Ah, vs 6-8 Ah), have a similar nominal voltage of 1.5 volts, and have a shelf life of 5-10+ years. Also, after some time, due to their chemistry, they may leak easily. But, if they are not stored properly, their shelf life can be shortened to 1-2 years. Zinc-carbon D-cells feature a shelf life of 3-5 years, and they are fairly cheap and reliable.

Zinc-carbon D-cells are the oldest type of D-cells and their nominal voltage of 1.5V is still practically a requirement for D-cell batteries. Zinc-Carbon D-cells feature a typical capacity of around 6-8 Ah (6000-8000 mAh) with a nominal voltage of 1.5 volts. Other non-rechargeable D-cell chemistries include zinc-carbon, alkaline, and Lithium-Thionyl Chloride (Li-SOCl 2) batteries, while NiOOH (Nickel Oxy-Hydroxide non-rechargeable chemistry) and NiZn (Nickel Zinc rechargeable chemistry) are far from being seen in this battery size. Non-rechargeable D-cells based on the Lithium Iron Disulfide (Li-FeS 2) chemistry are not yet widely in use, although they offer a nominal voltage of 1.5 volts (up to 1.8 open-circuit voltage), ultra-long storage time (10-20 years), and higher capacity, especially in high-drain applications. The list of most common chemistries is given in the following comparison table: Chemistry Most popular D-cell chemistries include non-rechargeable Zinc-Carbon, Alkaline, and Lithium-Thionyl Chloride (Li-SOCl 2) chemistries, and rechargeable Nickel-Cadmium, Nickel-Metal Hydride, and various Lithium-Ion chemistries.ĭ-cell battery dimensions are 34.2 × 61.5 mm (1.35 × 2.42 inches) and are one of the largest cylindrical batteries in common use - F-cells (33.0 x 91.0 mm) are larger than D-cells, but they are not as common as D-cells.Ĭapacity, voltage, output current, and other features greatly depend on the battery chemistry. The most common label for this battery is 'D-cell', but other labels are used as well, like 'flashlight battery', MN1300, MX1300, LR20, R20, 13A, 13D, Type 373, BA-30, etc.ĭ-Cell Batteries Features and Specificationsĭ-cell use depends on its chemistry and hence the discharge characteristics, including the nominal voltage, nominal capacity, discharge currents, self-discharge rate, etc. D Cell Battery - Replacements and Equivalentsĭ cell battery is a cylindrical battery introduced in 1898 and used in a variety of high-drain applications, including flashlights, toys, radio receivers and transmitters, medical devices, security systems, etc.

2 d batteries