Encyclopedia of Electronic Components Volume 1

Chapter 2. battery

power > source > battery

This entry covers electrochemical power sources. Electricity is most often generated electromagnetically, but since these sources cannot be classified as components, they are outside the scope of the encyclopedia. Electrostatic sources are excluded for similar reasons.

A battery is sometimes referred to as a cell or power cell, but can actually contain multiple cells, as defined in this entry. It used to be called an accumulator or a pile, but those terms are now archaic.

Other related components

• capacitor (see Chapter 12)

What It Does

A battery contains one or more electrochemical cells in which chemical reactions create an electrical potential between two immersed terminals. This potential can be discharged ...