C Batteries

What are C batteries used for?

C batteries suit devices that draw a steady current for long stretches, such as larger torches and lanterns, portable radios and speakers, and bigger children's toys. A C cell holds far more energy than an AA of the same chemistry, so it runs much longer between changes. The device always decides the size, so check the battery compartment or the instruction booklet before you buy; the size letter is usually moulded or printed beside the contacts.

C batteries and C cells: is there a difference?

Not in practice. Strictly speaking, a cell is a single power unit and a battery is a group of cells joined together, but in everyday use both words mean the same thing, and packs and instruction booklets use them side by side. Whichever word you search for, everything we stock on this page is a C cell battery. Packs may also carry an international size code made of the letter R and a number, with L in front for alkaline cells and H in front for rechargeable nickel metal hydride cells.

How big is a C battery compared with AA and D?

A C cell is roughly the same length as an AA but much wider, and both shorter and slimmer than a D, so it sits neatly between them in size. The sizes are not interchangeable: an AA rattles loose in a C compartment and struggles to make contact, while a D will not go in. Adapter sleeves that let an AA sit in a C slot exist, but an AA holds far less energy, so the device will run flat much sooner. If you are unsure what a device takes, hold an old cell against the compartment or read the size letter inside.

Which type of C battery should I choose?

Check the chemistry in the product details, then match it to how often the device is used. For things used now and then, such as an emergency torch or a radio kept for power cuts, alkaline C cells are the usual choice because they hold their charge well while they wait. For a device in daily use, such as a favourite toy, rechargeable nickel metal hydride C cells usually make more sense, because they can be charged again and again. If you go rechargeable, you will need a charger that takes C cells.

Devices made for C cells generally accept a slightly lower voltage, though a low-battery warning may show a little sooner. Zinc carbon cells are a basic option suited only to low-drain devices. Never try to recharge a cell that is not marked as rechargeable.

How to fit C batteries correctly

Line up the plus and minus marks on each cell with those in the compartment; usually the flat end sits against the spring. Change every cell in a device at the same time, and never mix fresh cells with part-used ones or different makes, because the weakest cell drags the others down and is more likely to leak. If a device stays dead with fresh cells, look at the contacts: a gentle rub with a dry cloth or a pencil eraser will often clear any dullness.

How to store and recycle C batteries

Keep spare C cells in their original packaging, somewhere cool and dry, away from coins, keys and other loose metal that could bridge the ends. Almost all of the range is small, so a spare set tucks easily into a kitchen drawer, a toolbox or a power-cut kit beside your torch. Take cells out of anything you will not use for a long spell, such as a toy that has been put away, so a leak cannot corrode the contacts.

When cells are spent, keep them out of household rubbish. Take them to a battery recycling point instead: larger shops that sell batteries usually have a bin, and local recycling centres accept them too.