Table of Contents
The CR2032 and the CR2016 are coin-type batteries that look similar and provide the same voltage. The significant difference between these two batteries is their power capacities and sizes. You can find these two-cell batteries in a wide variety of electronic devices like watches, calculators, glucose monitors, and computers. They may both be coin-type batteries, but a closer look at the CR2032 vs CR2016 shows that they are not interchangeable. Nevertheless, substituting one of the cells with another may not work in some devices and is not recommended.
It may interest you to know that there are two commonly used types of lithium batteries. Firstly we have the polycarbonate mono-fluoride lithium batteries, which we use when extended reliability and safety are needed. They have the prefix BR and are referred to as BR batteries. Secondly, we have Manganese dioxide lithium batteries, which are mostly used for consumer and commercial purposes. They have the prefix CR and are referred to as CR lithium batteries. The CR series of lithium batteries are cheaper and best when less battery stability is needed.
What is the difference between CR2032 and CR2016 batteries?
CR2032 Vs CR2016
| CR2032 | CR2016 | |
| Capacity | 240 mAh | 90 mAh |
| Voltage | 3V | 3V |
| Thickness | 3.2 mm | 1.6 mm |
| Rechargeable | Not rechargeable | Not rechargeable |
mAh (one-thousandth of an ampere hour)
Read next: CR2025 vs CR2016: What is the Difference Between These Batteries?
The capacity of a battery is measured in amp hours which is the amount of charge a battery can store. The amount of charge the battery can store is dependent on the mass of active material the cell contains.
CR2032 Battery
A typical CR2032 battery has a capacity of 240 mAh. The button battery will last for about 10 hours when using it with an average load of 24 mA.
CR2016 Battery
A typical CR2016 battery has a capacity of 90 mAh. The button battery will last for about 6 hours when using it with an average load of 15 mA.
Voltage
Simply put, the voltage of a coin cell battery is the measure of the difference in electric potential between the negative and positive terminals.
CR2032
The typical CR2032 battery is a 3 volt lithium coin battery.
CR2016
Likewise, the typical CR2016 battery is a 3 volt lithium coin battery.
Thickness
The thickness of the coin battery is the height of the coin cell. It is the difference in measurement between the top to the bottom of the cell. You can quickly get the thickness of the CR-series batteries from the last two digits of the name in a tenth of a millimeter.
CR2032 Battery
The CR2032 battery has a thickness of 3.2 mm.
CR2016 Battery
The CR2016 battery has a thickness of 1.6 mm.
Rechargeable
Can you use a battery charger with these cell batteries? Both the CR2032 and CR2016 are disposable batteries and therefore are not rechargeable.
They contain lithium ions which, when recharged could spill.
You should not attempt to charge them.
Conclusion
In conclusion: Are CR2016 and CR2032 interchangeable? Devices that use a single CR2016 battery usually cannot accept the thicker CR2032 because it will not fit into the CR2016 battery compartment. Conversely, it may seem reasonable that your device could get by using two stacked CR2016 coin type batteries replacing one CR2032. The dimension may work but the voltage is not right. Stacking two CR2016s (which is not recommended) gives 6V (3V+3V) instead of 3V that a single CR2032 provides.
Amazon’s Best Selling Battery Testers!
No products found.
Amazon’s Best Selling Battery Power Banks!
No products found.
Last update on 2024-07-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API