BR1225 and CR1225 Battery Equivalents and Replacements

BR1225 and CR1225 batteries are very popular lithium 3.0V button/coin cell batteries, commonly used in thermometers, dog collars, key-less remotes, PDAs, medical scales, heart rate monitors, remote controls, motherboards, calculators, toys, and other electronic equipment.

Both BR1225 and CR1225 batteries share the same physical dimensions, but they differ in chemistry and thus have slightly different performances regarding capacity, voltages, operating temperature, self-discharge rate, shelf life, and similar.

Updated: March 11, 2024.

BR1225 and CR1225 Batteries Features and Specifications

BR1225 and CR1225 batteries share the same physical dimensions of (D x H) 12.5 x 2.5 mm (~0.4921 x 0.0984 inches).

While CR1225 and BR1225 are the most common labels (which also depend on the battery chemistry), other labels are used as well, including ECR1225, DL1225, DL1225B, BR1225-1W, CR1225-1W, KCR1225, LM1225, 5020LC, L30, ECR1225EN, etc.

These are all button/coin 12.5 x 2.5 mm cells that may differ in chemistry and thus their discharge characteristics.

BR1225 and CR1225 lithium button/coin cells are primary (non-rechargeable) 3V batteries. Their negative electrode is made of lithium, while the positive electrode is either manganese-dioxide or carbon-monofluoride.

Manganese-dioxide lithium battery labels start with "C," and generally, their operating temperature range is between -20°C (-4°F) and 70°C (158°F). The nominal voltage is 3.0 V, and the cutoff voltage is 2.0 V.

A typical example is a CR1225 battery, with a typical capacity of ~50 mAh, a standard discharge current of 0.1-0.2 mA, a maximum continuous discharge current of 1 mA, and a pulse current of 5 mA. The actual capacity, of course, depends on the discharge current, discharge temperature, age of the battery, and similar.

The typical shelf life of the CR1225 battery depends on its self-discharge rate (1-3% annually) and generally varies between 4-7 years, although there are models with a shelf-life of up to 10 years.

Carbon-monofluoride lithium battery labels start with "B," and generally, their operating temperature range is -30°C (-22°F) and 85°C (185°F).

The nominal voltage of the older BR1225 batteries is 2.8 V, with a cutoff voltage of 2.25 V. However, with advancements in chemistry, the BR1225 batteries' voltage range is becoming closer and closer to the CR batteries' voltage range and is now usually between 2.0 and 3.0 volts.

The typical capacity of the BR1225 battery is also ~50 mAh.

But, the standard discharge current is lower than the standard discharge current of CR1225 batteries and is around 0.03 and 0.09 mA, with the maximum allowed continuous discharge current of 0.1-1.0 mA (if allowed!) and the maximum pulse discharge current around 1.0 and 5.0 mA (again, if allowed!).

BR1225 batteries feature a typical annual discharge rate of <1%, thus having a shelf life of 10+ years.

As one can see, in most situations, BR1225 and CR1225 batteries are interchangeable.

For example, both batteries can be used for low drain applications at room temperature, but for high drain applications (for example, watches with LED lights and alarms), CR1225 batteries are a better choice. On the other hand, for applications in extreme temperatures, BR1225 batteries are a better choice.

Also, as motherboard batteries, BR1225 batteries are a better choice since they have a lower self-discharge rate (<1% annually). However, there are also CR1225 batteries that feature a self-discharge rate as low as 1% per year - in that case, go for either BR1225 or a high-quality CR1225 battery.

Similarly, for watches that lack LED lights and audio alarms, BR1225 batteries may offer extra-long runtime (time between battery replacements) - again, high-quality CR1225 batteries can compare with BR1225 batteries in terms of shelf-life, but not in terms of operating temperature.

The following comparison chart lists some of the most popular BR1225 and CR1225 batteries with their most important features and specifications (batteries are given in alphabetic order):

BR1225 and CR1225 batteries are very popular batteries manufactured by many reputable battery brands, making these batteries rather easy to find, if not in the local hardware and office stores, then at online shops/stores.

 Thermometer 'Lo' or 'Low' Warning

When replacing the CR1225 or BR1225 battery in medical thermometers, many users are disappointed when their thermometers show "Lo" or "Low," even with a freshly replaced battery.

This is not a battery issue.

Actually, this is not an issue at all - simply, your thermometer is showing "Lo" or "Low" because it is measuring a temperature that is too low for it to display properly.

In most cases, both the battery and thermometer are performing well.

For exact error codes and general display codes of your thermometer, check its Owner's Guide/manual.

BR1225 and CR1225 Safety Issues

Like all similar small and shiny objects (other button/coin cell batteries included), BR1225 and CR1225 batteries can be swallowed by kids and pets.

That is why these batteries come in so-called "pets-safe" and "kids-safe" packages.

Although these batteries don't contain mercury, cadmium, and other toxic heavy metals and similar pollutants, they are very dangerous when swallowed - they can cause chemical burns and physical damage to internal organs.

If these batteries (or any similar battery) get swallowed, immediately contact the nearest emergency center (or doctor), explain what happened, and act according to their instructions.

BR1220/CR1220 Batteries vs BR1225/CR1225 Batteries

BR1220/CR1220 batteries are very similar to BR1225/CR1225 batteries.

The main difference is the size:

• BR1220/CR1220 batteries feature physical dimensions of 12.5 x 2.0 mm, smaller capacity (35-40 mAh), and somewhat lower drain currents,
• BR1225/CR1225 batteries feature physical dimensions of 12.5 x 2.5, larger capacity (~50 mAh), and somewhat stronger discharge currents.

Although battery compartments being able to accept BR1225/CR1225 can accept BR1220/CR1220 batteries, due to the issues with contacts (0.5 mm doesn't look like a big gap, but ...) and not so good performances, don't replace your BR1225/CR1225 battery with BR1220/CR1220 battery. Unless it is a short-term improvisation that is absolutely needed ...

Also, some battery compartments intended for BR1220/CR1220 batteries may accept larger BR1225/CR1225 batteries, just be sure not to damage the device - some credit card size devices can get warped and change the shape (and malfunction) due to the very small difference in the height of just 0.5 mm (that is ~0.02 inches!).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Here are some of the most common Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about CR1225, BR1225, and other similar batteries.

How can I test my coin battery?

The simplest method of testing coin batteries is using a digital multimeter and measuring the voltage.

So, set your multimeter to "DC," a voltage range of at least 0-5V, and measure the voltage.

If it reads ~2.0V, the battery is discharged. If it reads ~3.0V or a little bit less, the battery is good to go.

What battery will replace the CR1225 battery?

Any Lithium Manganese Dioxide 12.5x2.5 mm 3.0V non-rechargeable battery can replace the CR1225 battery.

These batteries may have various labels, including ECR1225, DL1225, DL1225B, BR1225-1W, CR1225-1W, KCR1225, LM1225, 5020LC, L30, ECR1225EN, etc.

Can the BR1225 battery replace the CR1225 battery?

Yes, but only in (very) low-current applications.

Are CR1225 and CR2025 batteries the same?

No, they are not the same. These batteries differ in size:

• CR1225 battery: 12.5 x 2.5 mm,
• CR2025 battery: 20.0 x 2.5 mm,

and performances and are obviously not interchangeable.

Are CR1216 and CR1225 the same?

No, these batteries have the same diameter, but they differ in height by almost 1 mm - CR1216 batteries may fit into the battery compartments intended for CR1225 batteries, but there may be issues with contacts.

On the other hand, the CR1225 battery can hardly fit the battery compartments intended for CR1216 batteries.

How to dispose of lithium CR1225 batteries?

Although BR1225 and CR1225 don't contain heavy metals like mercury, cadmium, lead and similar, it's very important not to throw them in the regular trash.

Instead, they should be taken to a specialized recycling facility or a local hazardous waste disposal center that accepts batteries.

Personally, many retailers or hardware stores that sell coin/button-cell batteries also offer free-of-charge recycling programs, so consider checking with them.

Long Story Short: BR1225 and CR1225 are very popular 12.5 x 2.5 mm lithium, non-rechargeable, 3.0-volt batteries. They can be found easily, just be sure to order the batteries from reputable brands with many positive reviews - their batteries have already been tested in real-life situations by countless users.

Some of the most popular CR1225/BR1225 batteries include (Amazon links, the links open in the new windows):

• Energizer BR1225 Lithium Watch Battery
• PKCELL CR1225 3V Lithium Battery
• LiCB CR1225 3V Lithium Battery

Personally, CR1225 batteries are more versatile than BR1225 batteries, but BR1225 batteries are excellent for low-drain applications like CMOS batteries, some watches, etc.

When buying these or any other battery, be sure to order according to your own needs and requirements.