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Where Did The “A” and “B” Batteries Go?
AA to AAA and C batteries, but no single A and no B. What gives?
Disposable batteries are a staple of modern life and can be a bane for parents and hobbyists alike. From remote controls to flashing toys and critical flashlights, batteries are used in all manner of applications today. The most common batteries are AA, AAA, C, and D. In fact, most of you likely have all of these jammed in a drawer somewhere, waiting to be needed. But what about B batteries? Or A batteries? Did they ever exist?
The modern naming and size conventions for batteries came about in the years leading up to World War II. Following the events of World War I, the country realized that a standardized system for batteries was critical for efficiency. It would be no good to have every company using different batteries for their products. Imagine having to have four different types of AA batteries for all of your different remotes.
[If you are interested, you can read a riveting history of this standardization titled A Brief History of the Standardization of Portable Cells and Batteries in the United States by American National Standards Institute Accredited Standards Committee C18 on Portable Cells and Batteries here.]
