You may have the CR2032 battery and you may be wondering what other batteries can replace this one. Well, let’s first familiarize ourselves with this battery. Simply put, the CR2032 is a frequently used 3-volt coin-like battery of lithium-manganese dioxide. As compared to its alkaline counterparts, it has a considerably higher capacity for this reason. Because of the high energy capacity, it is also called an ‘energizer’.
Now, let’s go back to the main question you want to replace this battery and you may wonder whether you can exchange it with another battery at all. Or would change the batteries damage the electrical appliance? So, without further ado, let’s figure this out.
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Everything You Need to Know About CR2032!
Before you even get to think about an alternative or a replacement equivalent for cr2032, it is important that you are well aware of this battery itself. And the most important question regarding any battery or device has to do with its manufacturing details. So what are these for cr2032? Well, you may not be aware of the fact that all the manufacturing giants, including Panasonic, Duracell, Philips, etc manufacture more than one type of cr2032 batteries.
The general configuration can be of a bare cell, that’s accompanied by several attachments. Usually, the negative terminal is an insulator at the top of the battery, while the positive terminal is a metal component at the bottom. You have to look for the “+” symbol, which denotes the positive connection, once you find that, you’ll be able to figure out both terminals conveniently.
The average diameter and height of this battery range from 5 to 25mm and 1 to 6 mm, respectively. The negative terminal is typically made of either Lithium or zinc, while the positive terminal is made of substances found in the air, for instance, cupric oxide, manganese oxide, oxygen, etc.
The codes on a battery type aren’t just randomly assigned numbers, they have meanings and offer you useful insights. So, for this battery, the lithium manganese dioxide component is indicated by the letter ‘C’, while the letter ‘R’ stands for its cylindrical or round shape. The next two digits indicate the thickness of this battery while the last two numbers are for the diameter measurement. This approach may be used to decode a vast majority of lithium coin cell batteries.
As we mentioned before, there are subtle manufacturing variations in 2032 and it’s important to learn about these in order to pick the perfect replacement battery.
Different Types of 2032 Batteries
The size and voltage of all 2032 batteries are going to be the same, as would several other specifications. However, these batteries can differ in quality, chemistry, and maximum work capacity.
There are two types of 2032 batteries, i.e. BR 2032 and CR 2032. The only significant difference between these two is the chemistry, and specifically, you can observe a more rapid degradation of voltage in BR2032, as compared to CR2032.
Even though CR2032 batteries are quite popular, not all CR2032 batteries are made equal, and not all manufacturing companies are equally committed to providing high-quality products. So, try to go for a reliable manufacturer and spend some time researching your options to avoid any counterfeit products.
Most Common Alternatives for CR2032
Finally, we are at our main question: which battery can we replace cr2032 with? The most common batteries that can be used as a replacement, include, CR2025, CR2016, and CR2014. However, you have to understand that by using the wrong battery, you are not only putting the battery at risk of damage but also your appliance. So, do not go on experimenting without proper knowledge about a particular battery and its compatibility within the system you are going to be using it in.
Can You Interchange CR2032 and CR2025?
Yes, of course! A CR2025 battery is a main, non-rechargeable lithium coin cell with dimensions of 20 mm in diameter and 2.5 mm in thickness. If they fit the compartment, both batteries are capable of powering a variety of small devices, including calculators, computer motherboards, fitness equipment, laser pens, etc.
Both the CR2025 and CR2032 are exactly alike when it comes to voltage, and size. However, the CR2032 would presumably last somewhat longer just because it has a slightly bigger capacity. However, there is a slight difference in the thickness of the two batteries but in the world of coin cell batteries, even a 0.7mm difference in thickness is a big one. In addition to this, CR2032 has a larger electricity production capacity than the 2025 version.
Although 2025 can be used in place of 2032, when used in identical appliances, the CR2025’s lower capacity (mAh) usually results in somewhat shorter service life, as compared to the other one.
Can You Interchange CR2032 and CR2016?
It can be used in place of CR2032 but it is not at the top of the list of alternatives. To give you some background, CR2016 is a Lithium based coin cell battery produced by the reliable company ‘Panasonic’. It promises of being long-lasting, offering a consistent power supply in quite a vast array of electrical appliances. The CR2016 is often used for exercise equipment, watches, calculators, vehicle key remotes, toys, etc.
The biggest similarity between CR-2016 and CR-2032 may be in the ways that they are often used. They both seem to be used in small electrical appliances and have the same diameter and similar voltage readings. However, these two batteries have varying thicknesses, with the 2016 version having a thickness of 1.6mm and the other one being 2.0mm thick, which prevents them from being exchangeable.
One obvious difference is that the power holders for the two devices need to have different sizes and they also differ in their overall capacity. Where CR2016 only has a 90 mAh capacity, CR 2032 has a 240 mAh capacity and this is a huge difference.
There are various situations where CR2016 and CR2032 can be swapped out because of their equivalent voltage, but it is not preferred. One CR2032 can easily replace nearly two CR2016 batteries, as long as it gets connected to the battery slot properly.
Can You Interchange CR2032 and CR2450?
As you may have already guessed, this one is also a 3V battery that has a shelf-life of around 10 years. It can be used in quite a diverse array of appliances, including medical devices, laser pens, calculators, fitness appliances, etc.
Similar to other options it also has a lithium composition and is devoid of any mercury. However, these batteries are quite broad (with a 24mm thickness) and it is hard to use them in place of CR2032 (that’s merely 20mm). Moreover, the 2450 batteries also have a higher capacity. But all of these comparisons between the features and specifications mean that CR2450 is not an appropriate replacement option for CR2032.
Are There Other Options?
What if the above-mentioned batteries cannot be used as alternatives? Well, there are a few more options that you can explore. The batteries known as BR2032, ML2032, and LiR2032 can be considered potential substitutes for the CR2023 battery type.
The BR2032 button battery uses Lithium Carbon Monofluoride composition. The positive electrode is made of carbon monofluoride, and the negative electrode is made of Lithium. It has a voltage between 2.6 and 2.8 V, which is comparable to CR2023. The fact that BR2032 does not handle large discharge currents can be a big factor contributing to the overall battery performance.
The next one on the list is quite comparable in size to a CR2032, the LiR2032 is a rechargeable lithium 3.6-V coin-shaped battery. Lastly, the ML2032 battery is a rechargeable battery that’s great news, however, one downside is that it has the potential to overheat or possibly explode.
A number of variables, such as material quality, storage condition, shelf-life, physical damage, or temperature fluctuations, can affect how long batteries can be stored. Before you put them to use, it is a good idea to do a quick test, and the easiest way to test if the battery works or not is to check the device through a multimeter.
Conclusion
Without a doubt, CR2032 batteries are quite long-lasting and you may not even feel the need to think about considering a replacement for a very long time. Having said that, it isn’t going to work infinitely, so it is a good idea to have some options always ready. Generally, you will need to change the battery if the voltage reading is less than 10% of the voltage rating.
Some users tend to delay the replacement of a battery but you have to understand that it is quite important to replace them promptly when you know there is a need for it. This will ensure that your devices are functioning efficiently and smoothly. Now that you know all about the different options that you have as a replacement, you can make the best decision and replace it with the one that works best for your device.