Make: Wearable Electronics

Appendix B. Batteries

Bodies are dynamic, mobile vessels in which we travel through the world. It is because of our transient nature that wearables require a portable power source. This power source most commonly takes the form of batteries. This section introduces factors to consider when incorporating a batteries into wearables.

Types of Batteries

Here are a few things you need to know about batteries:

• Batteries convert chemical energy to electrical energy.
• There are two types of batteries: primary (single use) and secondary (rechargeable).
• Even within the same battery type, voltage and capacity for batteries differ slightly based on manufacturer, chemistry, type, and other factors.

Round cell batteries are the type that you are probably most ...