Coin Cell Batteries

Coin cell families and where they are used

A coin cell battery — often called a button cell battery — is a small, single-cell primary lithium battery built for low-current, long-standby duty. In this category we supply lithium coin cells in CR and BR series formats — both are 3V-class primary lithium cells in the flat button format, sized by the standard coin-cell model code, whose digits state the cell's diameter and thickness. These are the two families most instruments are designed around, and they cover the majority of requests we receive for compact power in meters, remote controls, medical devices and IoT hardware.

The application decides the family before the model does. Utility meters, remote controls and memory-backup circuits in instruments typically run on CR-series cells, where the load is light and continuous. Medical devices, IoT sensors and outdoor electronics more often call for BR-series chemistry, which is chosen when the operating temperature range is wider or when self-discharge over long storage matters more than peak pulse current. If your device already has a battery holder, the mechanical fit narrows the choice further.

Coin cells sit at one end of our range. Where a device needs a rechargeable pack with a defined voltage and capacity, our lithium polymer batteries cover that requirement instead, and for products that need a fully specified assembly with protection and a connector, see custom battery packs.

CR vs BR series in plain terms

Both families are primary lithium coin cells, so they share the same general behaviour: they are not rechargeable, they hold charge well in storage, and they suit low-drain loads. The difference that matters to a design engineer is the chemistry variant behind the series name, and that is what changes how the cell behaves at temperature and over time.

In practical terms, CR-series cells are the common choice where the device operates at normal indoor temperatures and the current draw is modest and predictable. BR-series cells are specified where the operating window is broader or where the cell may sit unused for long periods before the device is switched on. That is why BR models turn up in medical and IoT designs more often than in consumer remote controls.

Selection is not a matter of one series being higher grade than the other. It is a matching exercise: your current profile, your temperature range, your shelf-life expectations and the physical holder all have to line up. We confirm the model against your stated requirement for each order, because the right cell for a meter and the right cell for a sensor node are rarely the same part.

Tabs, pins and packaging options

A bare coin cell is not always what a production line can use. Many assemblies need the cell terminated so it can be soldered or inserted directly, and that is where tab and pin options come in. Solder tabs and pin configurations can be supplied on request and are confirmed per model, so the tab orientation and pin layout are agreed against your board or holder rather than assumed.

Because these options are model-specific, they need to be part of the enquiry from the start. Tell us the model you are considering, how the cell will be mounted, and whether the assembly is hand-soldered or machine-placed. That information lets us confirm which termination is available for that model before the order is written, rather than after.

Packaging follows the same principle. Cells supplied for a manual assembly bench and cells fed into automated equipment have different handling needs, and the packing format should be agreed alongside the part itself. Options are confirmed in the project specification; not every model carries every option. Where a tabbed or pinned version is not available for a given model, we will say so at quotation stage and discuss the nearest alternative.

Ordering and MOQ

Coin cells start at 4,000 pieces. That figure is the entry point for this category, and it applies whether you are ordering a plain cell or a tabbed version, since the termination is confirmed per model on the same order. If your requirement is below that level, the usual route is to combine it with a pack project so the total order makes sense for both sides.

Sourcing for primary lithium cells includes Panasonic and Maxell, alongside other suppliers. We buy cells through these channels where the model and quantity suit, and the source is confirmed as part of the specification.

Ordering works in the same sequence as our custom work. Send the device description, the model you have in mind or the electrical requirement, the termination you need, and the annual or per-order quantity. We confirm the model, the tab or pin option and the packing format, then quote. Lead time is quoted per order once the configuration is fixed. For general questions on how we handle orders and documents, the ordering FAQ covers the common points, and you can ask about coin cell supply directly with your requirement.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the MOQ for coin cells?

Coin cells start at 4,000 pieces. That applies to the category as a whole, including cells supplied with solder tabs or pins, because those options are confirmed per model on the same order rather than treated as a separate line. If your quantity is below that level, tell us the application and we will say whether the order can be combined with a pack project.

Which coin cell models do you supply?

We supply primary lithium coin cells across the CR and BR series families. Both series are 3V-class button cells, and the size follows the standard model code — the digits give the diameter and the thickness — so the holder already fitted in your device sets the size class you need. CR sizes are the usual choice in instruments, meters, remote controls and memory-backup circuits; BR sizes appear more in medical devices, IoT sensors and outdoor electronics with wider temperature demands. Send the model your device is designed around, or the holder dimensions, current profile and operating conditions, and we will confirm supply of that size within the series on your order.

Can coin cells be supplied with solder tabs?

Yes. Coin cells can be ordered with soldering tabs or pins fitted, and the termination offered depends on the model. Because availability differs between models, include the termination requirement in your first enquiry and we will confirm which option applies to the cell you are considering.