At One Place

BR2032 battery

What replaces a BR2032
BR2032/BN, BR-2032
3 V lithium (primary), 20 × 3.2 mm (diameter × height)

The BR2032 is a single-use 3 V lithium (primary) coin cell. The codes below are the same physical cell sold under different manufacturer names, and any of them will fit.

Specification

IEC designation
BR2032
Nominal voltage
3 V
Chemistry
Lithium (primary)
Size
20 × 3.2 mm (diameter × height)
Typical capacity
190 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?
BR2032/BN Yes — same cell
BR-2032 Yes — same cell

Codes that look close but are not

Code Why it is not a substitute
CR2032 Identical case and 3 V, but a different lithium chemistry. The BR is carbon monofluoride: a little less capacity, a much lower peak current, far lower self-discharge and a −30 to +80 °C range. Substituting a CR where a BR is specified — industrial controls, car electronics, anything hot — shortens life; substituting a BR into a key fob can brown out on the transmit pulse.

The BR2032 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

  • PLC and CNC controller memory backup
  • Automotive body-control modules
  • Industrial instruments running hot or cold
  • Long-life utility metering

Rated at 190–200 mAh by Panasonic, the main producer. The B prefix in IEC 60086 is lithium/carbon monofluoride; C is lithium/manganese dioxide.

Common questions

What is equivalent to a BR2032?
BR2032/BN, BR-2032 — all the same 3 V cell under different manufacturer codes.
Can I use a CR2032 instead of a BR2032?
Identical case and 3 V, but a different lithium chemistry. The BR is carbon monofluoride: a little less capacity, a much lower peak current, far lower self-discharge and a −30 to +80 °C range. Substituting a CR where a BR is specified — industrial controls, car electronics, anything hot — shortens life; substituting a BR into a key fob can brown out on the transmit pulse.
Is the BR2032 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. Typical range compiled from manufacturer specifications — At One Place

How these figures are compiled and checked