SimpleUtilityBox
ENNLFRDETR

Tips & Guides

Understanding rechargeable AA voltage

These exercises use loose AA cells or disconnected, unpowered passive parts only. Do not work on household wiring, mains supplies or high-voltage equipment. Never connect current-mode probes across a battery. Stop if a battery is damaged, leaking or hot.

+−DC VCOMV/Ω
DC voltage: red to +, black to −. Black lead in COM; red in V/Ω. Never use A/mA sockets across a battery.
  1. Read the chemistry printed on the cell. NiMH AA is nominally 1.2 V, not alkaline’s 1.5 V. Do not assume every rechargeable AA uses the same chemistry.
  2. Measure a loose, undamaged NiMH cell with black in COM, red in V/Ω and DC V. A recently charged cell can read above its nominal voltage. Charge state, temperature and rest time affect the reading.
  3. Do not apply alkaline cutoffs to NiMH. Unloaded voltage is a poor capacity gauge. Use a charger approved for NiMH and follow its instructions; never charge an alkaline cell with it.

Related explanations

Volts (V)

Official sources