LR44 Lithium Battery Equivalents

From time to time, we are asked to help people find replacements for "LR44 lithium batteries", which is fairly easy - there is no such thing as a lithium LR44 battery.

And here is an explanation of why not ...

Updated: March 18, 2024.

LR44 Battery Voltage

LR44 battery features physical dimensions of 11.6 x 5.4 mm, alkaline chemistry, and a nominal voltage of 1.5 volts, with a cutoff voltage of ~0.9-1.0 volts. Other labels are also used, including LR1154, AG13, 76A, A76, etc.

SR44 battery features the same physical dimensions as the LR44 battery, silver-oxide chemistry, and a nominal voltage of 1.55 volts, with a cutoff voltage of ~1.2 volts. Other labels are also used, including SR44W, SR44SW, SR1154, 157, 303, 357, SG13, S76, etc.

Thanks to the very similar voltages, LR44 and SR44 batteries are interchangeable batteries, within the limits of each chemistry, of course.

PR44 battery features the same physical dimensions as the LR44 battery, zinc-air chemistry, and a nominal voltage of ~1.4 volts, with a cutoff voltage of ~1.0-1.1 volts. Other labels are also used, including 675, Blue Tab, ZA675, 7003ZD, etc.

PR44 vs. LR44 Battery

PR44 battery is generally compatible with LR44 and SR44 batteries despite a somewhat smaller voltage. But, the PR44 battery features a moist electrolyte, and as soon as it dries out, the battery dies, whether discharged or not.

Hence, the PR44 battery is being used as a hearing aid battery and very rarely as an LR44/SR44 battery replacement.

Lithium Battery Chemistries

Lithium Manganese Chemistry

CR1130 battery is a non-rechargeable lithium battery featuring physical dimensions of 11.5 x 3.0 mm, a nominal voltage of 3.0 volts, and a cutoff voltage of 2.0 volts.

Some battery compartments intended for a single LR44/SR44 battery (11.6x5.4 mm) may accept two CR1130 batteries, but that should NOT be done due to the voltage difference:

• PR44/LR44/SR44: 1.4, 1.5, and 1.55 volts,
• 2x CR1130: 6.0 volts.

Such voltage differences may damage any device easily.

For short: no, the CR1130 battery CANNOT replace the LR44/SR44 battery under no circumstances - unless You have some device that the manufacturer explicitly states that its single LR44/SR44 battery CAN be replaced with a pair of CR1130 batteries (and I am yet to find such device).

CR11108 battery is a non-rechargeable lithium battery featuring physical dimensions of 11.6 x 10.8 mm, a nominal voltage of 3.0 volts, and a cutoff voltage of 2.0 volts.

CR11108 battery is also known as CR-1/3N battery, but also as a 2LR44 battery, because two LR44 batteries stacked on top of each other feature the exact required height of 10.8 mm.

Hence, the CR11108 battery can be replaced with a pair of LR44 or a pair of SR44 batteries - of course, a lithium CR11108 battery is usually a preferred choice.

Lithium-Ion and Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO₄) Chemistries

Unlike non-rechargeable 3.0V Lithium Manganese chemistry, the 3.7V Lithium-Ion and 3.2V Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO₄) chemistries are rechargeable battery chemistries, allowing the users hundreds and thousands of charging/recharging cycles.

But, due to the higher voltages (3.2-3.7V), they are not backward compatible with LR44 batteries even if one finds a way to fit such batteries in the LR44/SR44 battery compartment.

Lithium Iron Disulfide (Li-FeS₂) Chemistry

Lithium Iron Disulfide (Li-FeS₂) is a type of non-rechargeable lithium battery chemistry featuring a typical voltage of 1.5 V (compatible with LR44/SR44 batteries) during high drain applications but also up to 1.8 V maximum open-circuit voltage (potentially too high for devices powered by LR44/SR44 batteries).

Lithium Iron Disulfide (Li-FeS₂) chemistry typical capacity is between alkaline and silver-oxide batteries.

However, another very important feature of Lithium Iron Disulfide (Li-FeS2) batteries is their extra-long shelf life of up to 20 years, making them potentially ideal batteries for security, medical, and EDC devices.

But, with silver-oxide batteries having a shelf life of 3-5+ years, somewhat higher capacity, and very stable voltage of 1.55V, there is simply no need for 11.6 x 5.4 mm button/coin cell batteries in Lithium Iron Disulfide (Li-FeS₂) chemistry.

Note: there are several more lithium and even nickel chemistries that have a nominal voltage of ~1.5V (for example, NiOOH or Nickel Oxy-Hydroxide battery, 1.5-1.7V; NiZn or Nickel Zinc, 1.6-1.65V) with each battery chemistry having its own pros and cons. But with zinc-air, alkaline, and silver-oxide 11.6 x 5.4 mm batteries, there is simply no need for another battery chemistry in this battery size.

Except for perhaps rechargeable 11.6 x 5.4 mm batteries with the output voltage electronically stabilized to 1.5V. But that should be completely another article ...

Long Story Short: There is no such thing as a lithium LR44 battery (or lithium SR44 battery). There are alkaline, silver oxide, and zinc-air 11.6 x 5.4 mm batteries, but there are no lithium 11.6 x 5.4 mm batteries. At least not yet...

So, if You find yourself looking for such a "lithium LR44/SR44 battery", check your original battery again. Just in case ...