[Germany bound]

Does it make any differences (pluse's minus's discharge quicker etc) if a portable electrical item uses C or D batteries?

I know if an item uses C batteries you have to use C's
and obviously if it is to use D batteries you have to use D batteries

thanks

[martytoo]

Quite simply as a general rule different sized batteries have different capacities. Take for example a simple torch bulb, connected to an AA size battery it will stay on longer than if connected to an AAA size, it will stay on even longer if connected to a C size and longer still if connected to a D size.

A battery or more correctly a single cell, has two characteristics it's voltage and it's ampere hour capacity. standard non rechargeable cells are 1.5 volts and the Ampere hour capacity varies according to the letter size and type 'High Power' types will last longer in a given application than standard ones Alkaline types such as Duracell's are by far the best.

Rechargeable's come in two basic types Nickel Cadmium (NiCd's or nicads) and Nickel Metal Hydride (Nimh) the latter being far better both of these are about 1.2 or 1.25 volts.

More info on rechargeable types here