Re: 9v Batteries... wow

Posted by reddesert on Dec 10, 2017; 7:17am
URL: http://guitar-fx-layouts.238.s1.nabble.com/9v-Batteries-wow-tp40884p40899.html

Battery voltages come directly from the chemistry of the process. A carbon-zinc (old "heavy duty") battery is 1.5v new. An alkaline battery is a bit above 1.5 volts new and slowly drops off with use. A Nicad battery is about 1.2 volts until it is near fully discharged. A lithium-ion battery is about 3.2 or 3.6 volts depending on type.

If you want a higher voltage, you have to connect several cells in series. So 9V batteries have been ~6 cells in series since they were introduced, more or less.  If you open an older laptop battery's housing, you'll often find several cylindrical lithium-ion cells.  (Newer ones that are made to be very thin probably aren't built that way.)