Why are there A, AA, AAA, C + D batteries, but no B?
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Why are there A, AA, AAA, C + D batteries, but no B?
While some might say it is to avoid sounding like one is stuttering, here is an answer from wikipedia...
Initially, the only such device was a diode with only a filament (cathode) and a plate (anode). Following the direction of electron flow, these electrodes were identified as "A" and "B", respectively and thus the associated batteries were referred to as the "A" battery and "B" battery, respectively. Later, when the control grid element was added to create the triode tube, it was logically assigned the letter "C" and supplied from a "C" battery. Subsequent addition of further internal elements to improve the performance of the triode, did not require an extension to this series of batteries - these elements were either resistively-biased from the existing batteries, connected to ground or to the cathode.
A B battery is any battery used to provide the plate voltage of a vacuum tube. It is sometimes colloquially referred to as a "dry battery" (although there's no reason why a "wet" battery of suitable voltage couldn't be utilised for the purpose).
The prior existence of the "B" battery is apparently the reason why there is no B-size single-cell "battery." In devising the lettered sizes it seems that there was a conscious effort to avoid "B," possibly also due to its association with a much higher voltage. Single-A was also avoided, but there was apparently no concern for possible confusion with the use of "C" as a size.
More detail is on the page here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B_battery_(vacuum_tubes)
Funny you should mention the stuttering part - my friend (who stutters) was grateful there are no "B" batteries, lol :D
Thanks verfolgung!
Hahaha! I love the Demitri Martin jokes about B-Batteries!!
^^ my mistake. verfolgung was kind enough to clarify though. :)
There is also a AAAA battery. My grandmother uses it in her glucose tester.
Z
There is no A or B drive.