Can CR2032 Button Battery Be Recharged?

18 December 2023


Ⅰ. What is CR2032 battery?

Ⅱ. Development of CR2032 lithium button battery

Ⅲ. Five major brands of CR2032 button batteries

Ⅳ. Applications and application circuit of CR2032 button battery

Ⅴ. Is the CR2032 lithium battery MSDS certified?

Ⅵ. What is the difference between CR2032 and CR2032H?

Ⅶ. Service life of CR2032 button battery

Ⅷ. Environmental protection and disposal of CR2032 batteries



With the advantage of smaller stature, button batteries have made them widely used in a variety of small electronic devices, such as electronic watches, ear warmer guns, Apple AirTag, controllers, electric toy cars, electronic counters and digital cameras. Today, we're going to introduce you to a CR2032 battery that, despite its popularity, has received relatively little attention.



Ⅰ. What is CR2032 battery?


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The CR2032 battery is a cylindrical lithium battery with a diameter of 20 millimeters and a height of 3.2 millimeters. The battery can provide 3 volts and its capacity is usually between 200 mAh and 240 mAh, possessing a service life of up to two to three years. These batteries are typically used in low-power devices and small electronics such as car keys, watches, e-readers, mini keyboards, calculators and fitness equipment.


CR2032 batteries use lithium metal and manganese oxide as the positive and negative materials to generate current through an electrochemical reaction. The lithium metal is oxidized at the positive electrode while the manganese oxide is reduced at the negative electrode, a process that releases electrons to generate current. The design of this battery allows it to have a high energy density and a low self-discharge rate, providing a stable supply of electricity over a long period of time.


Replacements and equivalents:

• 5004LC

• BR2032

• DL2032

ECR2032

• KCR2032

• ML2032



Ⅱ. Development of CR2032 lithium button battery


Initially, CR2032 lithium coin cell batteries are mainly used in watches, calculators and other small electronic devices. Due to its small size, light weight, and relatively high energy density, it has gradually become the ideal power source for small electronic devices. With the continuous improvement of technology, the performance of CR2032 lithium coin cell battery has been significantly improved, including longer service life, higher energy density and lower self-discharge rate. These improvements make it widely used in various electronic devices. Since the 1990s, the demand for CR2032 lithium coin cell batteries has continued to grow with the popularization of miniature electronic devices. It is widely used in remote controls, memory cards, Bluetooth devices, CMOS batteries for computer motherboards and other fields. Nowadays, people's awareness of environmental protection has increased, and more environmentally friendly materials and production technologies have been gradually introduced into the manufacturing process of lithium coin cell batteries.



Ⅲ. Five major brands of CR2032 button batteries


1. Panasonic


Panasonic is a well-known manufacturer of lithium batteries in the industry, and its products are widely used in various fields. Tesla electric cars use Panasonic 18650/21700 cylindrical steel case batteries as energy storage carriers. Panasonic CR2032 coin cell batteries are also the factory standard batteries for many devices, such as Apple AirTag. Panasonic CR2032 coin cell batteries are made with a green, mercury-free formula with a stable voltage platform (3V) and a nominal capacity of about 210mAh. The batteries are designed with a customized anode cap, which, together with a sturdy sealing cushion and professional production technology, effectively inhibits leakage and ensures the long-term, stable use of the batteries.


2. Maxell


Maxell is a subsidiary of Hitachi Group, which was founded in 1960 and was the first company in Japan to develop and produce alkaline batteries, floppy disks and other products. Maxell also occupies an important position in the storage field such as burners and disks. The original batteries for many motherboards are supplied by Maxell. Maxell's CR2032 coin cell batteries are made in Japan, and they utilize a 3V voltage platform and stainless steel for the case, with rubber seals to effectively prevent short-circuit leakage of the batteries. The battery also features low self-discharge characteristics and can be stored for up to eight years.


3. GP Super Battery


GP Battery is part of Gold Peak Industries. The company has focused on technology research and development for more than fifty years and has become one of the top five battery manufacturers in Asia and one of the top ten in the world by virtue of its product diversification and serialization. It has a complete product line and is a very common battery brand in the market. GP Super Battery CR2032 uses stainless steel to make the case, with a voltage platform of 3V and a shelf life of up to five point five years. In every aspect of the production process, it is manufactured and tested to high quality standards to ensure that each battery undergoes rigorous quality control and testing.


4. Philips 


Philips' industry coverage is very broad, and button batteries are no exception. Whether in a compact set or a five-grain card, we can see the Philips CR2032 battery. Among them, the 2-count version will also come with a mini screwdriver, providing users with convenience when disassembling and assembling devices. The Philips CR2032 battery has a voltage platform of 3V and a capacity of 210mAh. It utilizes an environmentally friendly, mercury-free formula and supports pulse high current usage. It is manufactured by Philips using Mitsubishi technology, and the assembly process uses a sealing ring and uniform adhesive coating treatment, which enables the battery to effectively prevent short circuits and leakage. It is worth mentioning that the battery also supports a storage period of up to five years.


5. Nanfu 


For IoT devices, Nanfu launched the "Chuanying" CR2032 button battery. This battery uses high-energy lithium cells and is designed with a gold base inside. This not only improves electrical conductivity, but also acts like an "energy gathering ring". Nanfu Chuanying CR2032 battery voltage platform is 3V and the capacity reaches 240mAh. Because the energy density of the battery core is greater and the power is more sufficient, the battery life is stronger. In addition, the battery’s mercury-free and cadmium-free formula has passed EU environmental standards and is more environmentally friendly. The battery adopts a unique "U"-shaped sealing process, which can prevent short circuit or leakage inside the battery and better protect electrical equipment. At the same time, the battery's validity period has been extended to ten years. This means that even as a backup battery, it can lock the power for a long time and maintain a long-lasting like-new condition.


6. Bull


Founded in 1995, Bull Electric is a professional company engaged in the research, development, production and sales of power connectors and related products. After more than ten years of development, it has become one of the largest manufacturers in the same industry in China. The Bull CR2032 button battery is packaged in a card with a green background, and every five batteries is one card. The battery casing is individually packaged in transparent blister, making it very convenient to access and store. The battery has shelf hanging holes for easy display and shelf placement. In order to ensure the long-term durability of the battery, the Bull CR2032 button battery uses an integrated stainless steel surface shell that can resist corrosion. In addition, its edges are sealed with insulating material, which effectively prevents short circuit leakage between the positive and negative electrodes of the battery, allowing the battery power to be locked. It is effective for up to ten years in a dry environment at room temperature.



Ⅳ. Applications and application circuit of CR2032 button battery


1. CR2032 button cell applications


CR2032 battery in the conventional voltage can store 3V of power, so it is widely used in computer motherboards and other electronic devices, mainly as CMOS RAM memory (also known as BIOS) power. In addition, the CR2032 battery in the computer motherboard another important role is to provide "Real-Time Clock" (RTC) the power required. The Real-Time Clock is the component of a computer system that keeps track of time and continues to run when the computer is turned off. By using the power provided by the CR2032 battery, the Real-Time Clock can accurately record the time information of the computer system.


2. Application circuit of CR2032 coin cell battery


A simple LED circuit for the CR2032 coin cell is shown below. The components required to build this circuit are an LED, a CR2032 coin cell, a resistor and a switch. All the components can be connected as per the circuit diagram below.


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The coin cell battery provides a nominal voltage of 3V. For the LED to light up, it needs a minimum voltage of 2.2V. Therefore, a resistor is used in this circuit to protect the LED from excessive current and to ensure that the LED gets the required current. When we press the switch, the LED lights up and works steadily. If the resistor or switch is removed, the LED will not get enough voltage and current and turn off.



Ⅴ. Is the CR2032 lithium battery MSDS certified?


MSDS is a document used by chemical manufacturers and importers to clarify the physical and chemical properties of a chemical and the possible hazards to the user. It can also be translated as a chemical safety statement or chemical safety data sheet. A MSDS describes the physical and chemical properties of a chemical, such as pH value, flash point, flammability, reactivity, etc., as well as the hazards they may pose to the health of the user. A MSDS is not a certified concept and does not require official authorization to prepare. It can be prepared by the factory itself according to its needs. However, in order to ensure the quality of MSDS, it is recommended to apply to a professional organization for its preparation.



Ⅵ. What is the difference between CR2032 and CR2032H?


CR2032 and CR2032H are both lithium manganese batteries, and their main differences are in capacity and manufacturing process. CR2032 has a nominal capacity of 210mAh, while CR2032H has a nominal capacity of 240mAh. Larger capacity means that it can work for a longer time to meet more demanding needs. In addition, the CR2032H process may be slightly better than the CR2032. Some brands use higher quality raw materials in the production of the CR2032H, which results in a lower current density, thus extending the life of the battery.



Ⅶ. Service life of CR2032 button battery


CR2032 button battery life is affected by many factors, the following are common factors.


1. Storage method


CR2032 battery storage method has an impact on the service life. Usually, it is best to store the battery in a dry, cool and no direct sunlight place. If the battery is not used for a long time, we should check its voltage regularly to make sure it is in the normal range.


2. Correct usage


Correct usage can prolong the life of CR2032 battery. When the battery is not in use, we should remove it from the device to avoid wasting power. In addition, we should choose the right load current to avoid over-discharging the battery.


3. The impact of the usage environment on battery life


If the battery is used in extreme high or low temperature environment, its life span may be greatly shortened. Similarly, the capacity of the battery will decrease if it is stored in a humid environment. Please ensure that the battery is used and stored in a suitable environment to extend its life.



Ⅷ. Environmental protection and disposal of CR2032 batteries


CR2032 batteries belong to the category of environmentally friendly batteries, which do not contain any harmful substances, but still need to be disposed of properly after disposal. In order to properly dispose of a large number of lithium batteries at the same time, we can dispose of them in different directions so that they do not come into contact with each other. It is important to note that lithium-ion batteries should not be disposed of with regular garbage, not even in the blue recycling bin. For easy recycling, we can choose to take them to a battery recycling center or battery recycling station, or request a pickup through your local government's website. This ensures that lithium-ion batteries are disposed of properly while protecting the environment.




Frequently Asked Questions


1. Can I use a CR2025 battery instead of a CR2032? 


For as long as either fits in the battery compartment, the CR2025 and CR2032 may be used interchangeably with minimal effect although the CR2032 would probably last slightly longer simply because it has a higher capacity (mAh).


2. Can I use CR2032 in Mazda key fob?


The voltage is the same; you're not going to fry your key fob upgrading the battery, so if a 2032 will fit, there's no reason not to use it.


3. What is the code for a CR2032 battery?


The CR2032 battery is also known as 2032, 5004LC, AWI L14, BR2032, BR2332, CR2032, DL2032, EA2032C, ECR2032, L2032, LF1/2V, LM2032, RFA-35, and Seiko SB-T15.


4. Is a CR2032 a lithium battery?


Specifically, the CR2032 battery is a Lithium-manganese dioxide battery (LiMn02). It is composed of a Mn02 cathode and a lithium anode. The device is specified for a 225 milliamp hours (mAh) and typically operates over a temperature range of –20 ºC to +70 ºC.