Lithium CR1632 3.0V Battery

Lithium CR1632 battery is a non-rechargeable button/coin cell battery based on the manganese-dioxide lithium chemistry, featuring a nominal voltage of 3.0 volts.

Lithium CR1632 battery is a very popular battery, commonly used in car keys, remote devices, toys, calculators, digital watches, CMOS battery, and similar. It is quite a common battery and easy to obtain. But, it also comes with different labels, causing some confusion among the users.

Updated: June 2, 2023.

Lithium CR1632 Battery Features and Specifications

Lithium CR1632 battery features physical dimensions of (D x H) 16.0 x 3.2 mm (~0.63 x 0.126 inch), hence the "1632" part of its label.

Letters "CR" means that it is a round battery (hence "R") and features a non-rechargeable manganese-dioxide lithium chemistry.

It should not be confused with rechargeable 3.0V manganese lithium chemistry, labeled as an "ML" battery, or rechargeable 3.0V vanadium lithium batteries, labeled as a VL1632 battery.

Note: rechargeable 3.0V ML1632 batteries, and especially VL1632 batteries, are very rare, but we mention them just in case.

CR1632 battery is an "official" label (according to IEC standard), but there are other labels in use as well, like DL1632 (by Duracell), ECR1632 (by Energizer), and similar.

CR1632 battery features a nominal voltage of 3.0 volts and a cutoff voltage of ~2.0 volts. However, cutoff voltage often depends on the cutoff voltage of the device being powered by a CR1632 battery.

Similarly, the nominal capacity of the CR1632 batteries is around 120-140 mAh, with the standard discharge current being around 0.1-0.2 mA.

Actual capacity depends on the temperature and the drain current. Manganese-dioxide lithium chemistry tolerates well pulse drain applications (for example, wrist watches with alarms or LED lights, key fobs, and other medical devices), but the frequent use of such applications may shorten operating life significantly.

The operating temperature of CR1632 batteries is usually in the -20°C to 60°C range, with some models being able to withstand temperatures between -30°C and 85°C, with some models supporting temperatures between -40°C and +125°C. Of course, there are certain limitations in performance at extreme temperature ranges.

When CR1632 batteries are used at room temperature, they feature a very low self-discharge rate, with some models having a self-discharge rate of ≤1% per year and a shelf life of 10+ years.

BR1632 Batteries vs. CR1632 Batteries

BR1632 batteries are round button/coin cell batteries of the same physical dimensions as CR1632 batteries but featuring carbon-monofluoride lithium chemistry that offers somewhat different performances.

The nominal voltage of BR1632 batteries is 2.8 volts, the cutoff voltage is ~2.25 volts, and the nominal capacity is 110-120 mAh, with a continuous drain current of "only" 0.03 mA.

Also, carbon-monofluoride lithium chemistry doesn't tolerate pulse currents very well.

But, carbon-monofluoride lithium chemistry offers a somewhat longer shelf life (10+ years), and a wider temperature range. For example, the Panasonic BR1632 battery features an operating temperature range between -30°C and +85°C, while the Panasonic BR1632A battery features an operating temperature range between -40°C and +125°C.

In order to mount the batteries, some BR1632 and CR1632 batteries come with soldering tabs, simplifying the replacement of the old BR1632/CR1632 batteries.

Note: If You need CR/BR batteries with soldering tabs, buy one - do NOT try to solder the tabs at home since it will, in the best case, destroy the battery.

Rechargeable CR1632 Lithium-ion Battery - LiR1632 Battery

There is no such thing as "Rechargeable CR1632 Lithium-ion Battery" - there is a rechargeable lithium-ion button/coin 1632 battery, with the most common label of "LiR1632 battery".

Note: We already mentioned rechargeable ML1632 and VL1632 batteries which are very rare.

LiR1632 batteries may be recharged hundreds of times, but they also feature lower capacity, higher self-discharge rate, and nominal voltage that depends on the exact lithium-ion chemistry and that varies between 3.2 and 3.7 volts.

As said before, rechargeable 1632 batteries may also come in manganese lithium chemistry (ML1632, 3.0 volts) and vanadium lithium chemistry (VL1632, 3.0 volts) - all these batteries should be recharged with the battery chargers designed for such batteries, or they can, again in the best case, overheat and burst to flames.

The nominal capacity of rechargeable 1632 batteries is:

• VL1632 battery: 25 mAh,
• ML1632 battery: 40 mAh,
• LiR1632 battery: 70 mAh.

Again, capacity depends on the temperature, current drain, number of charging/discharging cycles, and similar.

Lithium 1632 Batteries Cross Reference Chart

The following comparison chart lists some of the most common button/coin 16 x 3.2 mm batteries with their most important features and specifications.

Of course, there are many other models on the market.

CR1632 Battery Safety Issues

Modern round coin-cell 1632 batteries are practically free of mercury and other heavy metals (lead, cadmium, etc.), and as such, they are not "toxic."

But, if swallowed, body fluids can short-circuit the battery, causing various electrolytic reactions in the body that can produce strong acids and other chemicals that can badly hurt (chemical burns) and even kill humans and animals.

That is why CR1632 and similar batteries come in so-called "child-proof" packages.

However, if a child or pet swallows CR1632 or any similar battery, immediately call the nearest emergency center, explain what happened, and act according to their instructions.

Long Story Short: CR1632 batteries are very popular batteries that can be easily found at almost any hardware store or online shop.

When looking for new CR16232 batteries, go for batteries from reputable manufacturers that have been tested by countless users in real-life applications.

Such batteries often offer the best value for the money.