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[Xatyr]

Why are there no ‘B’ batteries?

 

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The absence of 'B' batteries in common usage can be attributed to historical reasons and industry standards. In early battery technology, different companies used a variety of lettered codes to identify battery types. However, as battery technology advanced and standardization became more important, it was decided to simplify the system.

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) established a naming convention for batteries in the mid-20th century, assigning letters from 'A' to 'D' to different sizes of primary (non-rechargeable) batteries. This standardization aimed to reduce confusion and make it easier for consumers to identify the appropriate battery size for their devices.

When it came to the 'B' designation, there was already a commonly used battery size known as the "BA" battery, which was similar in size to the 'A' battery but with a different voltage. To avoid confusion, the decision was made to skip 'B' and move on to 'C'. This decision was also influenced by the fact that the 'B' battery size was less commonly used compared to the other sizes at the time.

Additionally, as technology evolved, the need for 'B' batteries diminished further. Many devices that previously required 'B' batteries have either become obsolete or have been redesigned to use more common battery sizes.

It's worth noting that while 'B' batteries may not be prevalent today, there are still some specialty batteries that use the 'B' designation. For example, in certain applications like vintage radios or antique devices, you may come across 'B' batteries that were specifically designed for those devices. However, these are not part of the standardized battery sizes commonly found in consumer electronics.