Battery Nomenclatures

Army standard batteries are based around common configurations that have the same basic form, fit, and function, but with unique characteristics based on technology utilized.

• Batteries of the same configuration can generally be used interchangeably on the same end items. Refer to your end item’s Technical Manual for any compatibility issues or special instructions associated with different battery options.  
• Unique characteristics of different technologies include things such as weight, capacity (runtime in equipment), performance at extreme temperatures, and cost. 

The two overarching technology categories are rechargeable and non-rechargeable batteries. Pro tip: a rechargeable battery will have a national stock number (NSN) that starts with 6140 while non-rechargeable batteries will have an NSN that starts with 6135. Within these categories there are different chemistries as well as feature sets. For example some versions of batteries may contain smart circuitry able to communicate with chargers and end items.  

Like other equipment, Army-standard batteries are assigned a nomenclature via Joint Electronics Type Designation Automated System (JETDAS). Unique to batteries, however, is the fact that the numeric portion of nomenclature can be decoded into additional information about the battery. 

• The leading letters define whether or not the battery is rechargeable 
  • Nomenclatures that start with BA are non-rechargeable  
  • Nomenclatures that start with BB are rechargeable  
• The first one or two digits define the chemistry 
• The last two digits define the configuration 
• Sequential letters follow the numeric portion to indicate which revision the battery is.  
  • Generations are revised when significant changes are made to the configuration, such as a substantial capacity increase 
  • The first generation has no letter; A is already the second generation 

This becomes much easier to understand with examples. Here are two very common batteries, the BA-5590B/U and the BB-2590A/U. Both of these batteries have the same basic form, fit, and function as indicated by 90 in the last two digits of the nomenclature.