IoT & Sensor Node Battery Guide
Battery-powered IoT nodes trade capacity, pulse current, and temperature range. Pair the right cell with a realistic duty cycle — then estimate runtime with an engineering calculator.
Selection notes
- CR2450 suits higher-capacity room-temperature sensors; BR chemistry for outdoor extremes.
- Account for radio TX pulses, not just average sleep current.
- Design holders for the exact height — spring contact failures cause field returns.
Related charts
CR2450 cells deliver high capacity in a 24.5 × 5.0 mm, 3V lithium package (~550–620 mAh) — ideal for devices that must run months on a single coin cell. Do not confuse with the smaller CR2032 or the thinner CR2430.
A CR2032 is a 3V lithium manganese-dioxide coin cell, 20.0 × 3.2 mm, typically 220–240 mAh (about 0.66–0.72 Wh). Fresh cells often measure 3.2–3.4 V. DL2032 and ECR2032 are brand labels for the same size. CR2025 and CR2016 share the 20 mm diameter but are thinner and not drop-in replacements. Do not use rechargeable LIR2032 (~3.6–3.7 V) unless the device is designed for it.
CR2430 is a 24.5 × 3.0 mm lithium coin cell — thicker than CR2032 but thinner than CR2450.
CR2354 is a high-capacity 23 × 5.4 mm lithium coin cell — often searched alongside CR2450 but not the same diameter.
AA (LR6) is the world's most common cylindrical battery size at 14.5 × 50.5 mm.
18650 is an 18 × 65 mm lithium-ion cell — the backbone of many rechargeable product battery packs.
CR123A (CR17345 / DL123A) is a 3V lithium cylindrical cell (~17 × 34.5 mm, ~1400–1600 mAh) prized for high pulse current and long shelf life. It is not the same as the smaller CR2 or the much larger 18650.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I estimate months of life on a CR2450?
Divide usable mAh by average load current, then derate for temperature and pulse peaks. Use a battery-life calculator for a first-pass budget.
Review record and primary sources
Reviewed by PlainBattery Technical Review Desk on 2026-08-25. Checked: device-selection guidance, linked battery dimensions, voltage, and chemistry, compatibility and safety limits.
- Lithium Technical Handbook: CR Coin-Type Batteries — Panasonic Energy, 2020 handbook (2020). CR/BR dimensions, nominal voltage, capacity, discharge and temperature characteristics.
- Energizer CR2032 Product Datasheet — Energizer Brands, CR2032EU0118 (2018). CR2032 dimensions, capacity test conditions, voltage, pulse discharge and safety.
- Energizer E91 / IEC LR6 AA Product Datasheet — Energizer Brands, E91NA1018. AA dimensions, chemistry, voltage, shelf life and load-dependent capacity.
- US18650VTC6 Product Datasheet — Murata Manufacturing, 001. Representative 18650 dimensions, charge limits, capacity and discharge characteristics.
- CR123A Product Datasheet — Panasonic Energy, R1 (2024-07). CR123A dimensions, voltage, capacity, current and temperature range.
Revision record: source citations and field-level review scope added September 11, 2026. See our sources and methodology and corrections policy.
To identify a printed code, use the Battery Finder or the cross-reference charts.