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The Advantages of the Six-Volt Battery

The six-volt battery takes many different forms, including rechargeable units and smaller lithium cells. The most common type is the lantern battery, a large rectangular unit with positive and negative terminals on the top. People use six-volt batteries to power flashlights, certain toys, cameras and various other electronics which require moderately high voltage. Although it isn't the smallest or cheapest type, the six-volt battery offers several important advantages.

Capacity
- Despite its relatively high voltage, the six-volt battery offers greater capacity than most other kinds of batteries. A lantern battery holds more milliamps than typical nine-volt, "AA" or "C" batteries. Some six-volt rechargeables and lithium units hold less energy, but still boast a relatively high capacity, usually over 1,000 mA. Rechargeable batteries generally have a number of milliamps printed on the label or the package, while alkaline units typically don't.
Voltage
- Another of the six-volt battery's advantages is that it provides more voltage in a single battery than most other types. For example, an alkaline "D" cell only produces 1.5 volts and a rechargeable "AA" generates 1.2 volts. With a single six-volt battery, there's no need to worry about several partially-used batteries having a range of different capacities and charge levels. It's also possible to combine two six-volt batteries to produce 12 volts, which can power a variety of fairly demanding electronic devices.
Wiring
- The terminals on lantern batteries easily attach to electrical wires or clips. This allows for the connection of devices that lack battery compartments or holders. Six-volt rechargeables also offer some advantages in this area; a small charger or mini solar panel may connect to such a battery and charge it. On the other hand, it takes a large battery charger to hold and charge the five "D" rechargeables needed to generate six volts. Most small solar panels will need a separate, wired battery compartment before they can charge five "AA" or "D" cells.
Availability
- Yet another of the six-volt battery's advantages is that you can purchase it from a variety of different sources. Many retail stores sell this type of battery, including some dollar stores. It's also possible to order them online. Both the major brand names and the generic manufacturers produce six-volt alkaline lantern batteries. They mostly range in price, as of 2011, from about $2 to $8. The lithium and rechargeable types remain somewhat harder to find.

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