At One Place

6LR61 battery

What replaces a 6LR61
6LR61, 1604A, PP3, MN1604, 522, 6AM6
9 V alkaline, 48.5 × 26.5 × 17.5 mm

The 6LR61 is a single-use 9 V alkaline prismatic. The codes below are the same physical cell sold under different manufacturer names, and any of them will fit.

Specification

IEC designation
6LR61
ANSI / NEDA
1604A
Nominal voltage
9 V
Chemistry
Alkaline
Size
48.5 × 26.5 × 17.5 mm
Typical capacity
565 mAh
Rechargeable
No — never charge it

Codes that mean the same battery

Different manufacturers, one physical battery. Voltage, chemistry and dimensions all match.
Code Fits?
6LR61 Yes — same cell
1604A Yes — same cell
PP3 Yes — same cell
MN1604 Yes — same cell
522 Yes — same cell
6AM6 Yes — same cell
6LF22 Yes — same cell
E-block Yes — same cell
Krona Yes — same cell
6F22 (zinc-carbon size) Yes — same cell

Codes that look close but are not

Code Why it is not a substitute
NiMH 9 V Rechargeable versions of this shape are usually seven cells at 8.4 V or six at 7.2 V, not 9. Smoke alarms in particular are specified for a 9 V alkaline or lithium and can chirp low-battery from the day a NiMH is fitted.
6F22 zinc-carbon The same shape at the same voltage, but a fraction of the capacity — typically 400 mAh against 565 — and much worse under load. It is what is in the cheap multipack.

The 6LR61 is a primary cell and must never be put in a charger. Charging a sealed primary battery builds gas pressure inside a can with no vent designed for it, which is how they rupture or catch fire. Rechargeable look-alikes exist for several sizes and carry different codes — check the code, not the shape.

Where it turns up

  • Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
  • Guitar effects pedals and active pickups
  • Multimeters and clamp meters
  • Wireless microphone transmitters

Six 1.5 V cells in series inside a rectangular shell — in an alkaline 9 V they are six AAAA cells, which is why a dead one can be opened for stylus batteries.

Common questions

What is equivalent to a 6LR61?
6LR61, 1604A, PP3, MN1604, 522, 6AM6, 6LF22, E-block, Krona, 6F22 (zinc-carbon size) — all the same 9 V cell under different manufacturer codes.
Can I use a NiMH 9 V instead of a 6LR61?
Rechargeable versions of this shape are usually seven cells at 8.4 V or six at 7.2 V, not 9. Smoke alarms in particular are specified for a 9 V alkaline or lithium and can chirp low-battery from the day a NiMH is fitted.
Is the 6LR61 rechargeable?
No. It is a primary cell — charging one risks rupture or fire. Rechargeable look-alikes exist in the same size under different codes.

Related pages

Sources

  1. Official vendor product documentation — At One Place

How these figures are compiled and checked