Has anyone else seen 'shortened', by 1mm, AAA holders and consumer TOY  AAA ? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2020, 07:43:51 pm
content: Hi, bought a drugstore TOY, and I swear the AAA batteries / holder were about 1 mm shorter than my stock batteries. ()The clincher was, my 'regular' AAA batts did not fit, even with excessive force. When I noticed, I did some quick compares: The difference was close to 1mm.Speculation is, perhaps a 'midnight run' at the (chinese) factory, deliberate mistake, or not but BOTH holder and AAA batt were matched, fit ok.So I wonder, did that shave a couple percent off of a quick short factory run... A test?Seems strange, that both components fit each other.Any niche markets doing that ? Seems like ( they) could have, at least made the AAA holder with slightly more give, for fitting both sizes, if I got the 'visual' compares right.Would like to hear about other battery inconsistancys, thanks.

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2020, 10:24:22 pm
content: Any chance the batteries you have are the "high capacity" kind that try to squeeze more capacity into the same form factor?

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2020, 10:36:47 pm
content: You can measure them with calipers (make sure not to short the cells out!) - the standard dimensions can be found here:http://www.batteryholders.org/aaa.pdf

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2020, 11:11:24 pm
content: I didn't know what that meant: a 'wider top', but no, the batteries, from the store TOY (led-fan or some such) they seemed normal, and my stock didn't have any special chemical designation or 'super capacity's labels, just plain old metal-hydride rechargeables.No calipers in shop, but I have good eye-judgement, from previous draftsman work free-hand.(Drugstore shelves helping to supply electronics, as Radio Shack been closed).I'm suspicious because both items were abnormal, so started thinking how factory capacity, overnight, is sometimes used, to make 'grey area' products, often skipping regulatory steps and various tax requirements. You make product, ship it, and run w the cash...ACME TOIY Co. You can sometimes spot other things like typos.Wish I kept that, couple years have passed.

author: Nusa
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2020, 11:38:58 pm
content: As a quick fix if you need the toy to work, try AAAA batteries. They're 2 mm shorter than AAA. 2mm smaller in diameter too, but you can wrap some tape around each end to fix that if necessary.In fact, if the original batteries are kaput, disassemble one. Would be funny if there was a AAAA cell inside.

author: DrG
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 07, 2020, 12:04:46 am
content: Don't know what is going on with yours, but look at all the AA sizes herehttps://power.tenergy.com/battery-size-chart/I had no idea.Also check the note at the bottom of the table...Length can also vary, and also increase with a protruding end cap.You may have just proven that (although I don't know what to think about the battery holder).

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 07, 2020, 12:19:46 am
content: DrG, thanks, but it's the reverse case, in that my batts did not fit, however I scrunched the spring.By the way, the batteries that came inside TOY looked like typical ' chemical batteries', meaning one life zinc- whatever's ( the kind that could leak later), while my personal supply is all MH except a couple of older school ni-cads (those are AA).AAAA, interesting, but again, the AAA holder was getting my attention. Could have removed the minus side springs, but wasn't interested in side-tracked detective work... I have to think / web search, could have been AAAA inside a non-complient case ?"Always thought: I'd make for a good Criminal Investigator...or at least a good criminal..."